Last week’s Foothills Council girls basketball title game did not have the desired outcome for the Amsterdam Lady Rams. But, it wasn’t an ending. The Lady Rams are not dwelling on the 61-45 loss to Glens Falls, as they began preparing for their quarterfinal sectional playoff game with a scrimmage against the Lady Bulldogs of Berne-Knox-Westerlo on Thursday at Amsterdam High School.
“We’re not looking in the rear window,” Amsterdam coach Eric Duemler said. “We’ve moved forward. The girls know there are bigger games and better things up ahead.”
Amsterdam and Berne-Knox-Westerlo participated in a full scrimmage last Thursday with the Lady Rams outscoring their opponent 66-42 over the four, eight minute periods. Amsterdam took control in the second and third quarters outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 35-10. Nina Fedullo and Giuliana Pritchard teamed up to score 30 points for AHS, and the point guard duo of Lucia Liverio and Gianna Derosa scored a combined total of 18 points. Grace Catena added seven points, and along with Liverio, scored in every quarter for AHS. Amsterdam scrimmages once more, at Albany, before taking the court in the second of two New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section 2 Class A quarterfinals at Amsterdam High School on Thursday. Their opponent: the Lady Knights of Lansingburgh.
“They’re a scrappy team,” Coach Dumeler said. “Nylasia Sutton is their best player. She’s a good shooter, can hit the three, and she’s quick.”
Sutton had a big game in Lansingburgh’s 54-40 win over South Glens Falls on Friday. The senior poured in 27 points including eight three pointers in the Lady Knights first round victory. Sutton’s point total was equal to that of the rest of the Lady Knights who scored. As a team, Lansingburgh connected from beyond the arc 11 times. Freshman Autumn Anderson also had a pair of triples, and is just one of several Lady Knights who can hit from long range.
“Lansingburgh likes to play an up tempo game,” Coach Duemler said. “We have to protect the ball because they can create havoc, and they can shoot the three. We want to get back on defense and get out on their shooters, and take advantage of turnovers.”
The Lady Rams defense has often created havoc of their own during a competitive Foothills Council season. Amsterdam (16-4) has posted double digit margins in all but one of their 16 wins this season. Scoring in transition has become a common element of the Lady Rams game, and when they have a chance to shoot the three, anyone on the roster can knock down the long range shot. Leading the way are senior guards Brady Santiago and Maria Lomanto, who each have registered more than 20 triples so far this season.
In addition to contending with a group of talented long distance shooters, Lansingburgh (9-10) will also have to find a way to stop Amsterdam’s primary scoring threats in senior Nina Fedullo (19.3 points per game), and junior Giuliana Pritchard (12.4 ppg). The Lady Rams also have an advantage in the front court with Elena Fedullo, Taylor Flint, and Janina Sjoberg also helping with the rebounding chores. The Lady Knights tallest and primary post player in the middle is six foot, senior center Britney Dolan, but more often than not its been Sutton who draws the most attention from opposing defenses.
“They (Lansingburgh) like to run a lot through (Nylasia) Sutton,” Coach Dumler said. “Our biggest concern will be taking care of the ball and running our offense the way we should. It should be an exciting game.”
Amsterdam High School will host a pair of NYSPHSAA Section 2 Class A quarterfinal games on Thursday. Third seed Mohonasen will tip off with the sixth seed Lady Spartans of Queensbury at 6pm. Queensbury defeated Albany Leadership 55-44 in the first round. The second seed Lady Rams and seventh seed Lansingburgh are scheduled to tip off at 7:30pm.
Lady Rams junior varsity finishes season with win over Glens Falls 56-42
The Amsterdam Lady Rams junior varsity basketball team completed its 2016-2017 season with a 56-42 victory over Glens Falls in their Foothills Council crossover game Thursday night at Amsterdam High School. Antonia May led Amsterdam with a game high 14 points. Mady Carmona contributed nine points and Madison Wojcik and Jareymarie Aponte added eight points each for Amsterdam (13-7). Also getting on the board for the Lady Rams were Yariana Toro with five points, Sydney Szczepanik with four points, and Emily Schaufelberg, Delianna Figueroa, Kayli Hoefs, and Emma Gomez each had two points in the winning effort.
Glens Falls was led by Callie Woodell with ten points. Makayla Bennett scored seven points, Lexi Cutter scored six points, Cierra Beatty was next with five points, and Brooke Vassar scored four points for the Lady Indians junior varsity team.
It was the second win this season for the Amsterdam junior squad over Glens Falls. Back on January 19 at AHS, the Lady Rams JV broke open a close game in the second half to win 49-38. May and Yariana Toro teamed up to lead Amsterdam with a combined total of 27 points. During the season, the 15 member strong, junior Lady Rams posted wins over each of their Foothills Council division rivals including impressive wins on the road against Scotia- Glenville, and Johnstown. The 2016-2017 Amsterdam Lady Rams junior varsity basketball team are; sophomores Mady Carmona, Jareymarie Aponte, Yarlyn Toro, Delianna Figueroa, Emma Gomez, Megan Lamont, and Lilian Orengo, freshman Madison Wojcik, Francesca Derosa, Kayli Hoefs, Grace Patrei, Emily Schaufelberg, and Yariana Toro, and eighth graders Antonia May, and Sydney Szczepanik.
Three from AHS JV girls get called up to varsity
Antonia May had already made her varsity debut back on February 9 against Schuylerville, but according to NYSPHSAA Section 2 rules, could still play for the junior varsity as well. Following the junior varsity game, May was on the floor again for Amsterdam, this time as a member of the Lady Rams varsity for their scrimmage with the Lady Bulldogs of Berne- Knox- Westerlo. May saw action in the third quarter and scored three points. Two of May’s junior varsity teammates; sophomore Megan Lamont and freshman Madison Wojcik will be joining her on the varsity team when Amsterdam begins sectional play this week.
Amsterdam boys receive fourth seed, will face Mohonasen in ‘A’ quarterfinals
The 2016-2017 Foothills Council South division champion Amsterdam Running Rams earned the fourth seed in the NYSPHSAA Section 2 Class A tournament when the brackets were released on Wednesday. Amsterdam (12-8) fell in the league title game last week to Glens Falls, but received a first round bye and will face the fifth seed Mohonasen out of the Suburban Council in the quarterfinals on Sunday, February 26 at Hudson Valley Community College. A win and Amsterdam advances to the semi-finals at the Glens Falls Civic Center on March 1.
