Summer League Girls Basketball Playoffs

Downsville does it again

Lady Eagles beat Sullivan West for second straight summer league title

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — To quote the inimitable Yogi Berra, “This was like déja vu all over again.”

Last summer Sullivan West was undefeated heading into the summer league finals with a win over Downsville under their belt, but for the second year in a row the Lady Eagles of Downsville found a way to beat Sullivan West in the only summer league game that really matters, the final.

This year they needed a two-minute overtime period to break a 40-40-regulation tie and oust the Sullivan Starz who were missing Sarah Lander who is away on a family vacation. The Starz hindered their own chances with a multitude of turnovers (21 to be exact) and errant shot opportunities but still managed to play some scrappy minutes fighting back from a 21-16 halftime deficit. The Starz rode Kate Fanning’s driving shot with 49 seconds remaining to tie the game in regulation, but Downsville dug deeper and won the game 47-41 in overtime.

Overall, Downsville played a better game. They made key shots when they needed them, especially two huge three pointers from Alexis Henderson in overtime to ice the win. They also benefited from great shooting from sophomore Stephanie Shellman and veteran Courtney Hoyt during regulation to fuel their own sputtering offense, which had also been hampered by turnovers (19).

The lead seesawed in the early going as each team’s defense found a way to limit the opposition. Downsville did a good job boxing up April Ackermann, but Fanning and Donna Kelly picked up Sullivan West’s scoring. Starz guard Erin Bernhardt answered a Shellman three pointer with one of her own to keep things close as regulation wound down.

Experienced Downsville, the 2004 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Class D runner up, showed its ability to move well without the ball while a predominantly young Sullivan West squad surrendered a couple of easy baskets on nice Downsville cuts by not providing weak side help.

Sullivan West came into the summer league finals undefeated, having beaten Downsville once as part of their 7-0 record. Not only that, for the second straight year the Sullivan Starz lit up the basketball camp world at Colgate University in the week leading up to the summer league finals. This year they went 12-1, losing only to Class AA Fayetteville Manlius by one point on a stolen inbounds pass in the game’s waning seconds.

During their week at camp the Starz beat Onteora, Waterville, Rome Catholic, Denonda, Clinton and two Class AA teams, Canandaigua and Central. The team went 4-11 against brutal AAU competition prior to summer league and ended their off-season whirlwind tour with a 24-13 overall record.

Coach Ron Bernhardt was very pleased with his team’s efforts. “A one-point loss to a Class AA school and an overtime defeat in summer league– hey, a few breaks and we’d be undefeated,” he smiled.

Downsville coach Christine Baldauf was pleased with the win and seemed intrigued by the rumor that Class D state champ Pine Valley may be moving up to Class C. Both teams will no doubt benefit greatly from this summer’s experience once the real hardwood wars begin in late November. By that time, Sullivan West will be girding itself for another set of Eagles’ talons, namely those from John S. Burke Catholic.