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March 8, 2010

Keysor's finish extra sweet

Saranac sweetens Keysor's swan song with berth in state tournament

By RYAN HAYNER



SARANAC — In his memorable 22-year career with Saranac, Chad Keysor has made five trips to the NYSPHSAA state playoffs.

Once you get a taste, he said, "you get such a craving for it."

As the sun sets on a remarkable coaching career for Keysor, who holds the Section VII record for wins at 300, getting back to the state tournament in his final season at the reins makes it a just little bit more special.

Keysor's Chiefs will play Section X champion Ogdensburg Free Academy 6 p.m. tonight at SUNY Potsdam in the first round of Class B regional play.

"It's very rewarding," he said. "It's obviously rewarding to still be playing, but the last go-around, I think it adds a little bit to it."

Saranac ended a six-year run of Class B championships by Northeastern Clinton to get here. The Chiefs, shaking off two regular season losses to the Cougars, posted a 63-53 win in the Class B final Friday.

The win also marked No. 300 for Keysor.

Keysor said depth and versatility are two of the Chiefs' (17-4) biggest strengths.

Saranac's depth was a focal point in its win against Northeastern Clinton.

When starters Ashley Bowman and Mychelle Favreau got into foul trouble, Katie McCasland, Becka Horton and Alyssa King stepped up.

"We have eight really, really good players who would start on most teams and I just think that's such a weapon," Keysor said. "We had two girls in foul trouble against Northeastern Clinton and it didn't really show."

Megan Bowman leads the Chiefs with 13.7 points per game. Mychelle Favreau is second with 8.0. Stephanie Linder averages 7.8 and Jade Pellerin adds 7.5 a game.

Pellerin leads the team with 25 triples while Bowman has 13.

Keysor said he doesn't know a whole lot about Ogdensburg Free Academy (14-8), but he used Champlain Valley Athletic Conference rivals as comparisons.

"Defensively, they have the toughness of a Peru team and offensively, they seem to have the finesse and weapons of a Northeastern team," he said.

The Blue Devils, the top seed in the Section X Class B tournament, defeated Potsdam, 39-26, for their second title in three years.

After the class finals are finished, Section X teams from all classes battle it out for the right to be called Section X Overall Champions.

Ogdensburg was riding a six-game winning streak until Malone, ranked No. 6 in the Class A state rankings, edged it for the title Friday.

Three players average double figures for the Blue Devils, including 1,000-point scorer Megan Morrison.

The senior guard averages a team-best 12.9 points per game and has shown to be a threat from the outside.

Morrison has connected on 27 tripes and is making them at a 37.5 percent rate.

Lindsay Drummond adds 10.9 points per game and Elissa St. Germain is right behind at 10.8.

The Blue Devils are ranked No. 10 in the latest Class B poll.

When talking about his team's chances, Keysor points out that Northeastern Clinton beat Malone and Malone beat Ogdensburg, but with an important caveat.

"When you get to this level, every one is a champion," he said. "There are no weak teams left; no more easy games."

Saranac Chiefs (17-4)

Playerfgftptsave.

Megan Bowman1094327413.7

Mychelle Favreau65201598.0

Stephanie Linder38261027.8

Jade Pellerin57191587.5

3-point goals

Pellerin25M. Bowman13

Ogdensburg Free Academy

Blue Devils (14-8)

Playerfgftptsave.

Megan Morrison846325812.9

Lindsay Drummond943523910.9

Elissa St. Germain863621510.8

Mackenzie Cole52361406.4

3-point goals

Morrison27Drummond16

Meg Dodge15

E-mail Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@pressrepublican.com

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