Bloomfield, East Rochester vie for girls title: What to know about small school finals
Liz Davis looks back on East Rochester's previous meeting with Bloomfield, and referred to it as "probably our worst game all season."
ER's Bombers were plagued with sickness and several players were less than their best or absent altogether. The result in the teams' "Bomber Classic" was a 57-39 victory for Bloomfield.
Davis, East Rochester's first-year head coach, is glad her group has another chance against a Bloomfield team in search of its first section title since 2007. The two teams meet in the Class C1 championship on Friday.
View: Section V girls basketball tournament scores
"We did not play defense well at all, we did not rotate, we didn't talk. And we couldn't buy a basket. Just so many things that went wrong in that game," Davis said. "We've come so far and adjusted. I'm excited for Friday. We're all in good health and have a good mindset."
East Rochester has won four of its last five games, and is within grasp of its third section title in four years. The Bombers' roster features two players, seniors Zarriah Eldridge and Emma Romach, who were members of both the 2021 and 2022 championship teams.
While Davis stops short of calling such experience an advantage, she said "there is a component to know how to manage the nerves."
Bloomfield's championship experience begins and ends with its head coach Julie Kimball, who was a member of two title-winning teams in the early 1990s.
This year's group leans heavily on four juniors (Lily Baughman, Annie Dodge, Ashlyn Wright and Abby O'Brien) and one sophomore (Calla McCombs) to carry the load.
"The girls have really come together and started playing more as a team this second half of our season," Kimball said in an email. "We are quick and can run the floor well. We have good shooters and strong post players. If we have a night when we are shooting well, things are good for us."
Section V Class B championship: No. 1 Hornell vs. No. 2 Dansville
Hornell Red Raiders (20-3)
Coach: Jim Dagon
Sectional titles: 2023
Statistical leaders: Jordyn Dyring 14.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists per game; Payton Bentley 12.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 blocks per game; Lillian Hoyt 12.5 points per game, 81 3-pointers; Raegan Evingham 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 2.5 assists per game; Selena Maldonado 9.2 points, 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 3.5 steals per game.
Dansville Mustangs (20-3)
Coach: Arin Beldin
Sectional titles: 2020, 2019
Statistical leaders: Aynsley Belcher, Chelsie Tyler, Kali Meyer.
Hornell and Dansville have been the class of Class B in recent years, each having won a title within the last four seasons. The teams played for the Class B2 title in 2023, with Hornell landing the victory. The Red Raiders also claimed both regular season meetings against the Mustangs this season.
Section V Class C1 championship: No. 2 Bloomfield vs. No. 4 East Rochester
Bloomfield Bombers (21-2)
Coach: Julie Kimball
Sectional titles: 2007, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1987, 1983, 1977, 1976, 1975
Statistical leaders: Lily Baughman 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4 steals, 3.2 assists per game; Calla McCombs 15.7 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 steals per game; Annie Dodge 11.8 points. 4.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals per game; Ashlyn Wright 9.8 points, 7.3 rebounds per game.
East Rochester Bombers (17-6)
Coach: Liz Davis
Sectional titles: 2022, 2021, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988
Statistical leaders: Zarriah Eldridge 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists per game; Aniyah Eldridge 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists per game; Aaliyah Carmichael 8.3 points, 7 rebounds per game; Emma Romach 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals per game; Gianna Romach 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists per game.
Two small school blue bloods in Section V meet to determine which will advance to the Class C state-qualifying game. Kimball is in her fourth season as Bloomfield coach and is making her first appearance in the section final in that role, after two championships as a player (1993, 1994). Davis, a first-year head coach at East Rochester, was with the JV team during the Bombers' last two championship runs.
Section V Class C2 championship: No. 1 Dundee/Bradford vs. No. 2 Keshequa
Dundee/Bradford BraveScots (21-1)
Coach: Michael Strait/Anthony Yeoman
Sectional titles: 1991 (Dundee)
Statistical leaders: Kendall Parker.
Keshequa (21-2)
Coach: Pete Piraino
Sectional titles: 2023, 2020, 2014, 2013, 2010, 2008, 1980, 1979
Statistical leaders: Libby Benner 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals; Braelyn Isaman 10.2 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals per game; Ava Thayer 10 points, 3.5 steals.
The BraveScots have reached the sectional final for the third time in four seasons, since merging the Dundee and Bradford teams. Piraino is in his 45th season as Keshequa coach, and recently earned his 600th career victory. Keshequa has reached the C2 final one season after winning Section V's Class D crown.
Section V Class D championship: No. 1 Charles G. Finney vs. No. 3 Elba
CG Finney (18-2)
Coach: Andy Marchand
Sectional titles: 2009
Statistical leaders: Lucia Suarez 15.1 points per game; Kiara van der Jagt 11.4 points per game; Allie Frederickson 11.8 points per game.
Elba Lancers (19-4)
Coach: Charlie Pangrazio
Sectional titles: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2005, 2001, 2000, 1997, 1995, 1983, 1980
Statistical leaders: Sydney Reilly 24 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals; Lydia Ross 15 points, 4 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds; Mariah Ognibene 9 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V girls basketball championships 2024: Small school preview