Press-Republican

Sports

Related Photos

Discussion

PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.

Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.

Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.

We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.

Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:

There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.

Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.

Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.

Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)

Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”

Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.

Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.

Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.

In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.

Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.

We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
comments powered by Disqus
March 14, 2009

Westport girls fall

By RYAN HAYNER

PLATTSBURGH — Two-time defending state champion Hammond's strong defense in the regionals has put them back in the Class D final four.

After limiting Germantown to 34 points in a first round win Wednesday, the Red Devils defense overpowered Section VII champion Westport for a 51-36 victory Saturday in the Class D girls' basketball quarterfinals at the Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse.

Hammond (22-4) will meet Section IX champion Coleman Catholic in the state semifinals 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

"I'd like to credit the way Westport played. I was very impressed the way they came out and hung," Hammond coach Shawn Dack said. "They made us play harder — they made us win the game."

Despite losing, Westport coach Hokey McKinley said he was happy with the way his team competed.

"I was really happy overall with the way we played. They're a very good basketball team," he said.

The Red Devils came into the game against Westport as an experienced team with plenty of momentum. Hammond had to defeat teams ranked 18th and 14th to get into the state tournament and then handed Germantown its first loss of the season to get to the regional final.

Early on none of that mattered for Westport, who trailed by just two heading into the second quarter.

Hammond opened up the game with an 8-2 run, but Westport got a layup from Sarah Gibbs and a short jumper from Martha McKinley to end the quarter with the Red Devils up 8-6.

After that, it didn't take long for Hammond's pressing and trapping to overwhelm the Eagles for most of the game.

Westport cut the deficit to six on back-to-back three pointers from Rebecca White three minutes into the third quarter, but Hammond responded with a 12-5 run to finish out the stanza to regain a double-digit lead, 36-23.

"You have a lot of girls from the last couple of years who have big game experience in this game and the regional finals and the final four. I think a lot of it was their confidence in that moment," Dack said.

Aubrie Dunn scored a game-high 15 for Hammond and Cassie Cunningham added 11. White was the lone Westport player to finish in double figures with 11 — all in the second half — aided by her three three-point field goals.

McKinley said it was a great season for Westport regardless of the regional outcome.

"We had a lot of fun," he said.

—

Hammond 51, Westport 36

Hammond (51)

Atkins 3-0-7, Hollister 1-0-2, Cunningham 3-5-11, Boland 0-0-0, Hunt 2-2-7, Jenne 2-1-5, Crosby 1-0-2, Milsap 0-0-0, Wahlen 0-0-0,

7-1-15, Langtry 1-0-2. Totals: 20-9-51.

Westport (36)

Hopkins 2-0-4, White 4-0-11, Sherman 1-0-2, Hathaway 0-0-0, Rodriguez 1-2-4, M. McKinley 2-0-4, Gibbs 3-0-6, W. McKinley 1-1-3, Frum 1-0-2, Rascoe 0-0-0, Armitige 0-0-0. Totals: 15-3-36.

Hammond8131515—51

Westport661113—36

3-point goals: Hammond (2): Atkins, Hunt. Westport (3): White 3.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local Sports