NICK ST. DENIS
PLATTSBURGH — Hoosic Valley brought a strong defensive mindset into Saturday's Class C Regional Championship girls' basketball game against Ticonderoga.
And, it executed to perfection.
The Indians held the Sentinels to just four first-half points in a 47-11 victory at the Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse, earning a trip to the state Final Four tournament in Hudson Valley next weekend.
Hoosic Valley played a tight man-to-man game, forcing turnovers and making Ticonderoga take tough shots.
"That's the way we like to play defense," Hoosic Valley head coach Walter Dorman said. "Down in Section II, if you don't play good defense, you're not going to win."
The Indians' solid play at their own end helped relax a Hoosic Valley offense that Dorman said never presses.Hoosic Valley went 12-for-40 in field goals and 18-for-27 at the charity stripe.
"We just play good defense and take our time on offense, getting in position to take the shots we want to take," he said.
However, Ticonderoga (13-8) didn't give the Indians much on offense early on.
Despite giving up a three-pointer and taking five fouls in the first five minutes of the game, Ticonderoga held the Indians to just seven first-quarter points.
Hoosic Valley (25-1) then got things rolling in the second quarter as Erin Davidson hit her second three-pointer and teammates Carlee Chapko and Taylor Sullivan scored behind the arc. The Indians led by a 23-4 margin at halftime.
Samantha Anderson led Hoosic Valley with 15 points, going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Julie Thompson picked up seven rebounds for Ticonderoga.
"We're excited to be moving on," Dorman said. "In the final four you need a little bit of luck, but to get there is definitely the main goal you set.
"We started out with a young team, but they believe in what we teach and hopefully we can finish it off next weekend."
—
Hoosic Valley 47, Ticonderoga 11
Hoosic Valley (47)
Davidson 2-0-6, Chapko 2-0-6, Anderson 5-5-15, Moore 0-0-0, Houston 0-5-5, Kugler 0-3-3, Lanoue 2-0-4, Sullivan 1-1-4, Bro. Ryan 0-2-2, Bri. Ryan 0-2-2, Gregano 0-0-0. Totals: 12-18-47.
Ticonderoga (11)
Diehl 0-1-1, Tubbs 1-1-3, Budwick 1-1-3, Barber 2-0-4, Thompson 0-0-0, Ja. Patchett 0-0-0, Vradenburg 0-0-0, Ross 0-0-0. Totals: 4-3-11.
Hoosic Valley7161014—47
Ticonderoga3 1 4 3—11
3-point goals: Hoosic Valley (5) Davidson 2, Chapko 2, Sullivan 1.
