Girls’ Basketball
Harpursville 45, Oxford 38 (OT)
OXFORD – Harpursville proved its team is more than Hannah and Alycia Kimmel, and beat Oxford for the second time this season on the Blackhawks’ home floor in Tuesday’s MAC Division II tie-breaking game.
The Hornets did not give up a point in the overtime period, and received scoring from four different contributors to earn a trip to the league championship game this Saturday against Greene at SUNY Oneonta.
Abby Klutts, the consummate role player on the Harpursvillle roster, hit an open 15-footer off an inbounds pass from Kayleigh Livermore to open the scoring 40 seconds into overtime. Hannah Kimmel put back an offensive rebound with under a minute to play, and Miranda Drummond – just an eighth-grader – hit two free throws before Alycia Kimmel tacked on the final point with 6.3 seconds left.
“They’re a very good team, and they played the best defense of anybody we’ve seen all season,” said Harpursville coach Kurt Ehrensbeck, whose club has beaten Oxford twice this month in tight games – each on the road. “We had a lot of players step up tonight, and all we ask of our players to do is to play as hard as they can.”
Oxford trailed by three in the final minute of regulation when Alyshia Crawford came off a screen and buried a three-pointer to tie the contest at 38-38 with 23 seconds left.
Crawford picked up a steal with seven seconds left on Harpursville’s next possession giving Oxford a chance to win the game. Harpursville, with only three team fouls to that point, fouled Oxford twice in succession killing most of those seven seconds, and Crawford’s long-range three at the buzzer was just off the mark.
“That was a big-time three for Alyshia and it was just a senior making a play,” said Oxford coach Chris Palmer. “You have to give Alyshia a ton a credit, that was a great play for anybody. I only wish we had a little more time on the clock (after the turnover). I think we could have drawn up a play to win it.”
Similar to the previous meeting, Oxford seemed in control of the game, and led 26-15 three minutes into the third quarter after back-to-back baskets by Haley Witchella.
Drummond stopped Oxford’s momentum with two free throws, Erin Dietzman canned a three, and the Hornets trimmed the deficit to 31-26 entering the fourth.
Livermore’s third three-pointer of the game tied the contest at 31-31, and after each club traded hoops, Alycia Kimmel drained a three ball with 1:49 left that gave Harpursville at 38-35 lead.
“I thought we did a great job containing Hannah and Alycia tonight,” Palmer said. “But they do have talent at the complimentary positions. You don’t beat us two out of three games without having good talent. It’s not just the two Kimmels.”
Witchella scored 17 for Oxford and Crawford added 14. The Blackhawks will match up with Unatego on Thursday as its final tuneup before sectional play begins next week.
Harpursville: Erin Dietzman, 2 0-0-5; Abby Klutts, 1 2-2-4; Alycia Kimmel, 2 1-2-6; Hannah Kimmel, 5 2-4-12; Kayleigh Livermore, 4 0-0-11; Miranda Drummond, 0 7-8-7; Erin Andrews, 0. Totals: 14 12-16-45.
Oxford: Alyshia Crawford, 6 0-0-14; Allie Nelson, 0; Ginny Burdick, 0; Kelli Whitehill, 0; Jackie Heggie, 2 1-2-5; Julie Heggie, 0; Kim Shackelton, 1 0-0-2; Haley Witchella, 7 3-8-17. Totals: 16 4-10-38.
Harp. 9 6 11 12 7–45
Oxfd. 8 12 11 7 0–38
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (O) Crawford 2, (H) Livermore 3, Dietzman, A. Kimmel. Officials: Ferrarese, Jayne.
Sherburne-Earlville 64, Adirondack 50
SHERBURNE – Sherburne-Earlville overcame a shaky first quarter Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the Section III, Class B playoffs.
Caitlynn Adams and Bridget Irwin had five points in the second quarter, and Kristi Vibbard hit a three as the Marauders turned a seven-point deficit into a three-point halftime lead.
“I think we were a little nervous coming out, and we turned it over a few times in the first quarter,” said S-E coach Karen Mulligan.
The Marauders led by seven entering the last quarter. Adams had two three-point plays after steals, and Kristi Irwin had six in the last quarter as S-E pulled away. “I kind of expected this to be a tough game,” Mulligan said, whose club was a number three seed facing an upstart 14th seed. “Hitt (Rachel) made some great plays for them and was getting into the lane. We had a little bit of a scare in the first quarter, and it took a while to wake up.”
Adams had 16 points, 15 boards, six steals, and two blocked shots. Kristi Irwin scored 13, and Bridget Irwin had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots.
S-E hosts either Jordan-Elbridge or IHC of Watertown on Friday.
