Girls basketball: Semifinal standouts and looking ahead to the six Section 4 finals

Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette

All six championship games in Section 4 girls basketball are in place following semifinal contests in five classes Tuesday night.

The finals matchups, with some times not determined as of Tuesday night:

  • Class AAA: Corning at Elmira, 5:30 p.m. Friday. They had byes into the final.

  • Class AA: Horseheads vs. Union-Endicott, Sunday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton.

  • Class A: Johnson City vs. Owego Free Academy, Sunday at Visions Arena.

  • Class B: Newark Valley vs. Chenango Forks, Sunday at Visions Arena.

  • Class C: Watkins Glen vs. Moravia, 2 p.m. Saturday at Tompkins Cortland Community College.

  • Class D: Cherry Valley-Springfield vs. Edmeston/Morris, 2 p.m. Saturday at SUNY Delhi.

Defense, Bonnell in high gear for Raiders

Horseheads' Sophia Bonnell drives to the basket as Binghamton's Shania Beylo (4) and Sa'Niya Glover defend during the Blue Raiders' 52-30 win in a Section 4 Class AA girls basketball semifinal Feb. 27, 2024 at Horseheads Middle School.
Horseheads' Sophia Bonnell drives to the basket as Binghamton's Shania Beylo (4) and Sa'Niya Glover defend during the Blue Raiders' 52-30 win in a Section 4 Class AA girls basketball semifinal Feb. 27, 2024 at Horseheads Middle School.

Top-seeded Horseheads' bid to add a sectional title to its repeat Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship was buoyed by a stifling defensive effort and 23 points from Sophia Bonnell in a 52-30 victory against fourth-seeded Binghamton in a Class AA semifinal.

Bonnell joined Megan Wolf (9 points) in hitting three 3-pointers each and Bonnell created havoc with her ability to drive to the basket for two, work her way back out for an open shot or find a teammate for an assist.

Horseheads (17-4) led 33-15 at halftime and Binghamton didn't hit its first field goal of the second half until 6:46 remained in the fourth quarter. The Raiders led 44-16 after three.

The Raiders hadn't played an official game since beating Chenango Forks in the STAC final on Feb. 16, but coach Andy Scott said a couple of scrimmages against quality opponents helped his team stay sharp.

"We just worked really, really hard at preparation and I think if you get some time to prepare for teams, it really helped them," Scott said. "They really executed everything we did defensively. To hold that team to the teens through three quarters when last time we played them it was a one-point game, I was just really pleased with what I saw on that end and obviously offensively we got some different contributions from kids, so that was really, really good as well."

Horseheads' Kaylyn Cook, center, and Jordyn Gross defend Binghamton's Selena Torres during the Blue Raiders' 52-30 win in a Section 4 Class AA girls basketball semifinal Feb. 27, 2024 at Horseheads Middle School.
Horseheads' Kaylyn Cook, center, and Jordyn Gross defend Binghamton's Selena Torres during the Blue Raiders' 52-30 win in a Section 4 Class AA girls basketball semifinal Feb. 27, 2024 at Horseheads Middle School.

U-E win sets up 'entertaining' Class AA final

Second-seeded Union-Endicott (15-4) rolled to a 66-45 win over third-seeded Vestal in Tuesday's other AA semifinal. U-E won the Class A title in Section 4 last year.

Scott is looking forward to his program playing at Binghamton's arena for the first time in several years and expects a big-time game.

"Great team. They beat us early in the year, early December," Scott said of U-E. "They've had a really good year, they've got some great players, I think we have some great players. It's going to be an entertaining game for the crowd."

More: Horseheads freshman's shooting off bench earns her our Athlete of the Week

Smith gives JC a boost

Johnson City standout Marisa Smith delivered 21 points to help the top-seeded Wildcats to a 58-44 victory over fourth-seeded Norwich in a Class A semifinal.

Avrie Nannery added 13 points for the Wildcats (14-6).

Fourth quarter the difference for Owego

In the other Class A semifinal, second-seeded Owego Free Academy outscored third-seeded Maine-Endwell by an 11-5 margin in the fourth quarter and pulled out a 33-28 victory.

Cassie Doane led Owego (12-9) with 10 points and Alexis Herceg scored nine.

Tessa L'Amoreaux had nine points for the Spartans and Madalyn Ocker had eight.

More: NYSPHSAA Section 4 boys basketball 2024 tournament pairings

Forks, Newark Valley rematch set in Class B

Chenango Forks will get a crack at Newark Valley again after the Cardinals won last year's Class B final by a 51-35 score.

Top-seeded Forks (17-4) topped fourth-seeded Chenango Valley, 51-36, in one semifinal.

Second-seeded Newark Valley (21-1) beat third-seeded Susquehanna Valley, 48-38, in the other.

IAC over MAC in Class C semifinals

Tuesday's Class C semifinal doubleheader at Tompkins Cortland Community College pitted Interscholastic Athletic Conference teams vs. the Midstate Athletic Conference. Both contests went the IAC's way.

Top-seeded Watkins Glen (17-3) downed fourth-seeded Unatego, 44-32, behind 22 points from Rachel Vickio. The Lake Hawks outscored Unatego 15-4 in the final quarter.

Third-seeded Moravia (19-3) overcame a five-point halftime hole for a 46-37 triumph against second-seeded Greene. Jessalyn Jones led Moravia with 13 points, including two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Recap of the 2024 Section 4 girls basketball semifinals

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