GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Greene 62, Spencer-Van Etten 38

GREENE - Greene advanced to the Section IV, Class C quarterfinals putting together a dominant performance against visiting Spencer-Van Etten on Tuesday night.

"We played the most complete game we have all year," said Greene coach Dave Gorton. "We were really solid all the way through."

Greene shot out to a 17-3 lead after one quarter of play as Olivia Kennedy and Payton Yahner split a dozen points.

The Panthers cut the margin to nine points, Gorton said, but the tide thoroughly turned the Trojans' way by the end of the third quarter.

Cassie Butler scored 15 of her career-high 18 points during the second and third quarters to raise the Greene lead to 49-27.

"Tonight will go a long way toward the girls believing they can play with anybody," Gorton said. "Spencer played in the IAC finals, and lost a close one to Union Springs."

Not coincidentally, the seventh-seeded Trojans next matchup is Friday night at number two seed Union Springs.

"Defense is the key for us," Gorton said. "We score better when we play good defense. I think everybody is starting to find their niche. It was such a complete team effort, and we played so well. When we subbed, we didn't miss a beat."

Yahner added 17 points in the win and Kennedy had 16 points for Greene (16-4).

The Trojans won much more convincingly over S-VE tonight versus the Panthers' recent outing against Union Springs. Gorton, though, eschewed the comparative score analysis.

"Union Springs has a very sound group," the Greene coach said. "We'll have to play as well as we did tonight to advance."

S-VE: Rhiana Lawrence 6, M. Cooper 7, R. Sudnikovich 4, Sophia Dutra 5, Hannah Martinez 16. Totals:  FG-12, FT 7-9-38

Greene (16-4):  Olivia Kennedy 16, Adreana Romano 2, Cassie Butler 18, Abby Yahner 5, Payton Yahner 17, Paige Estabrook 2, Cali Knapp 2.  Totals:  FG-26, FT 4-6-62.

Score by quarters

S-VE   3   14  10  11--38

Gre.  17  18  14  13--62

Three-point goals: Greene 6 (Butler 4, Kennedy, P. Yahner).  S-VE 7 (Martinez 4, Lawrence 2, Cooper).

 —————

Moravia 61, Oxford 34

MORAVIA - Sixth-seeded Moravia overwhelmed Oxford over a 1 1/2-quarter stretch in the second and third quarters to eliminate the Blackhawks (12-9) from Class C postseason play on Tuesday.

"I think the press started to wear on us, and because of that, they were able to get some easy baskets on turnovers," said Oxford coach Chris Palmer.

Oxford led 9-7 after one quarter, but gave up the lead briefly three minutes into the second quarter when Moravia's Katherine Baylor drained one of her four 3s. After Oxford briefly regained the lead, Baylor put her club ahead for good, 15-14, after an inside bucket.

Baylor's hoop started a 13-1 Moravia run to put the host club up 26-15 at the half.
"We played excellent for a quarter and a half. I think we were fatigued, unfortunately," Palmer said. "We do have to give credit to Moravia. They are a solid program, and they play really hard."

Oxford was hurt by 9-for-58 shooting (15 percent), and committed 24 turnovers in the game.

Madalyn Barrows had 17 points to lead the Blackhawks, who have reason for optimism next season.

"The good news is that we have no seniors, and a solid group of jayvee players coming up," Palmer said. "We have some work to do, but the potential is very promising."

Oxford (12-9): Madalyn Barrows 17, Kyla Kelsey-Jones 6, Ava Benjamin 4, Leah Oliver 2 Kadance Gallo 2, Ella Kelsey 1, Abby Denz 1, Bailey Chesebro 1. Totals: FG-9, FT 14-22-34.

Moravia:  Katherine Baylor 20, Chloe Hanson 12, Jordan Smith 7, Olivia Genson 7, Allison Kehoe 3, Makenna Caza 3, Tayden Jihnson-Stayton 3, Kayleigh Utter 2, Gabby Heim 2, Addison Moore 2. Totals: FG-23, FT 7-14-61

Score by quarters

Oxford   9   6   9  10--34

Morav.   7  19 23 12--61

Three-point goals: Oxford 2 (Barrows 2). Moravia 8 (Baylor 4, Genson, Kehoe, Caza, Stayton).