BREAKING NEWS: UConn recruit Saniya Chong (pictured right) has set the new scoring record for Rockland/Westchester/Putnam after dropping 43 points in an 88-78 win over Hamilton (11-1).
Chong surpassed Peekskill alum Sheila Wagner after needing 28 points to become the sole record holder. The senior guard got off to a relatively slow scoring start before erupting for 24 points in the fourth quarter.
You can read more about this thrilling game, as well as view a photo gallery in tomorrow’s game story by our colleague, Brian Heyman.
* CHONG TRACKER * With her point total tonight, Chong is now inches away from her 2,500th career point (2,492 total), and made a nice dent in catching FDR alum Karen O’Connor for the all-time female section scoring title (2,662 points).
If she stays at her current pace, Chong, who is now averaging a clean 36.0 PPG on the nose, would pass O’Connor in five games (she would need 26 in the fifth game). O’Connor’s record has stood untested since her graduation in the mid-80’s.
While we’re on the topic of Ossining, our colleague Brian Heyman was able to confirm the future of standout eighth grader, Andra Espinoza-Hunter (who fouled out against Hamilton).
There have been rumors floating through the blogosphere Espinoza-Hunter will be taking her talents elsewhere next year, possibly to St. Michael’s or Christ the King. Heyman spoke with Ossining coach Dan Ricci, who put a stop to the rumors, bluntly.
”(Espinoza-Hunter) is not going anywhere,” he said. “She’s staying here all … six years.”
In other breaking news, Albertus Magnus junior point guard Ryan Doherty left today’s game with an apparent concussion, according to Falcons head coach Pat Buckley.
Doherty, who stepped into the starting role after Kelly Guarino tore her ACL prior to the season, was taken to the hospital. We hope to have more information on this later tonight as well.
The Lady Falcons have been plagued by injuries this season — between Guarino’s ACL tear (for the second time in two years), D-1 recruit Maeve Parahus spraining her ankle last week, and Doherty with a possible concussion now, Magnus just can’t catch a break this year.
Wednesday, January 16
Ossining 88, Hamilton 79
Tappan Zee 55, Nyack 43
Irvington 65, Pearl River 49
Albertus Magnus 47, Nanuet 39
Holy Child 54, King 43
Valhalla 38, Keio 10
North Rockland 75, Clarkstown North 51
Rye Country Day 42, Chapin 39
Pleasantville 43, Byram Hills 41
Suffern 57, East Ramapo 38
Hackley 44, Riverdale Country 12
St. Joseph at Maria Regina, 1 p.m.
Masters at Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.
Croton-Harmon at Fox Lane, 4:30 p.m.
Lakeland at Peekskill, 4:30 p.m.
Good Counsel at Aquinas, 5:45 p.m.
Brewster at Carmel, 6 p.m.
Mahopac at Somers, 6 p.m.
Yorktown at Panas, 6:15 p.m.
North Salem at Kennedy, 4:15 p.m.
Horace Greeley at Blind Brook, 4:30 p.m.
Game of the Night:
Phil Terrigno: 2-0
Mike Zacchio: 0-2
Prediction recap:
Today’s record: 10-0
Season record: 150-48
Here are Phil Terrigno’s post-game notes to the Pearl River at Irvington game:
IRVINGTON – The Bulldogs used the power of two 11-0 runs to down a strong Pearl River team 65-49.
“That’s something that you can sporadically see in our games,” Martins said. “We will go on points where someone will hit a 3, we’ll get a defensive stop, someone will get a layup and then Brittni or Ryan will get a steal. It’s kind of how our offense works.”
Lexi Martins led Pearl River with 34 points, including a 12 of 15 effort from the foul line.
Brittni Lai added 13 and Alyssa DiCampli had 10 points.
“Ryan (McMahon) [pictured left], Lauren and Alyssa had great games,” Irvington coach Gina Maher said. “Not necessarily in points but Ryan and Lauren played great defensively. We stopped Pearl River and their whole cutting to the middle (style). We moved the ball really well on offense but I’m almost happier about our defense.”
Irvington routinely had the two tallest players on the floor in the 6’2’’ Martins and the 5’10’’ DiCampli.
“We are usually very good on help defense and aggressive,” Pearl River coach Lorraine Moylan said. “With that many weapons, it was hard to take one thing away. We didn’t do a good job of taking any one player away.”
The Pirates, who averaged 59.2 point per game coming into the contest, were held well below their season average.
“It was an off day shooting, it was an off day on defense and just an off day overall,” Pearl River’s Missy Scognamiglio.
Amanda DeCourcey had 12 points to lead the Pirates. Sam Alicandri and Scognamiglio (pictured right, shooting) scored nine points. Irvington improves to 10-1, and Pearl River falls to 8-2.
28 Comments
Hamilton’ s biggest issue on a run to state title will be focus. What team in class c is going to hang with them. They beat Mary Louis and played Ossining close.
Yorktown at Panas is postponed to 1/24!!!!
Wow is that score correct??? Hamilton has gained my respect! Very impressive!
agree on hamilton given the disparity in depth… Well done Hamilton.
Hamilton
transfer
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eventuallybe
ruled
inelgible
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my
opinion
In my opinion their biggest issue will be conditioning. I don’t know what Class C has for comp but this team needs to run harder in practice and play some more competitive games. They clearly lost their legs in the 4th. And appeared winded throughout. How do they not play Irvington? The only reason they played Oss is because its a league game. Should have sched some tougher games like Oss and Mary Louis.
@ Brew I have to give it to that coach from Hamilton who has been dealing with depth issues for a minute but still has his team competing, freakin impressive.
Hamilton coach great guy and coach! Was apart of his clinics years ago and he was fantastic. A blessing to any HS bball program.
Enough of the sour grapes bloggers on the Hamiltons Transfer. I believe she and the afore mentioned transfer last year came from Catholic Schools.
Would we be hearing this if transfers went to Catholic schools who compete in Section 1 .
I think Not.
Great game tonight on both sides. It was a real treat. Other than Irvington not sure who else can challenge the Pride in Section 1
@hs, Could you for once give credit where credit is due? Hamilton, a class C team, more than competed against the probable Class AA state champion and you criticize them for losing their legs in the 4th quarter despite their lack of depth. Furthermore I’m confused about your post. You want them to play tougher games “like Ossining and Mary Louis.” Didn’t they beat Mary Louis? And didn’t they play Ossining today?
I don’t understand how a team like Blind Brook or Hamilton (no offense to them or anything) can be put into a league schedule with a team that’s 2 or 3 classes ahead of them. Shouldn’t they play teams within their respective classes as part of their league schedule?
Again, no disrespect for either of those teams. Just trying to make sense of that. Doesn’t seem fair to any parties involved imo.
firstly…dnt see her…Tiffany Corselli being ruled ne thing but…a phenom nd person of notice for tops in section 1
Can anyone tell me why they don’t play the National Anthem at Hamilton?
3seasons , I know what you mean we feel the same way about coach Ricci!
@hsbbfan, how would we know, lol … Call the AD to find out, you’ll get your answer.
Stanner, I said MORE ames like that, to get them ready for States.
The legs and lungs comment was not meant to be disparaging, it was meant to be constructive. It is your lens that is negative. Admittedly you were not at the game correct? If you were you would have seen the Hamilton girls panting throughout. They ad to call time out to rest on several occasions. Ms. Corselli their best offensive payer scored 29 pts, 5 in the 4th qtr. Saniya scored 43 pts but 24 in 4th qtr and she never stops running full speed and she never came out of game. Never even sat on time outs. Ossining was atrocious from outside last night. If they were even mediocre the game would have been over earlier. It was their conditioning and depth that made the difference. I’m pulling for Hamilton to win state championship. My point was in order to do so they better step up the conditioning. Their sched doesn’t push them hard enough and apparently their practices do not either. Keep in mind, Hamilton’s starters usually play the whole game. Maybe they should rest more who knows. On the other hand, Oss starters almost never play 4th qtr but they were clearly stronger at the end. Thats just a fact. If you were there you would have seen it but be stats and final score do tell the story. Hamilton played well and I wish them the best. Now put your positive glasses on. :0
Stanner, hsbbfan is stating an opinion on how Hamilton can be better! not similar to those, last year and the year before, that said Ossining should play a tougher schedule. The difference is that hsbbfan was sincere the others were saying that because Chong wasn’t playing anyone, that she’s wasn’t a D1 prospect…you remember that , don’t you?
The success of the Ossining program is their conditioning. If the girls do not run full speed in practice they have to run more. Coach makes adjustments as the game goes on; Cristello covering Corselli in 4Q is an example. The goal was to shut them down and the team can because of their conditioning, speed and determination to win.
@ Changes I’ll take Ossining bench any day and add it to Hamilton Bench where Chong was able to cruise preserving her energy which gives coach Ricci the option to keep players fresh. It look like if Hamilton had 1 or 2 solid subs with the type of defense they play they win easy against a balanced team like Ossining. I give coach Ricci a lot of coaching credit but coach Carter gets it too with how he works his limited team with few role players having his team competing against the so called best year after year. I think it goes unnoticed because Hamilton is a C school, which really means nothing because its about bringing it and competing as both teams did the 2nd year straight. I witnessed both game and they both were the best out of all the game I saw.
I’m for sure the Hamilton girls run but it’s hard to go hard for 32 minutes on Offense & Defense and not get caught out there. Ossining really didn’t shut Tiffany or Maia down they shut themselves down with bad shot selections, getting winded and defensive breakdowns. We have difference of opinions but on outside looking in at that game Hamilton gave it away on those facts.
@ Colonial I think Hamilton was put in the league with bigger schools because every time you opened the paper last year and this year they were constantly beating teams by 20 points or more with half a team and always proved they were battle ready in close games they had, as well as fun to watch like Ossining, Irvington, Mt Vernon when they regroup, Pearl River etc.
@ Science 1, I know you are a straight Ossining fan but you sound as if they are the only good team and players in Westchester, not!!! They have a solid program and luxury of players to travel as they did this year because it wasn’t always like that…and note a lot of these girls from Westchester make a name on the AAU scene.
Sports junkie, in the CTK game Ossining had their starters in as much has Hamilton had theirs in last night. The point here is that your coach has to get his team in better shape!
The leagues were made based on geography not size of school or quality of team. Its stupid but true.
Junkie when you say Chong was able to cruise you must mean in the 4th qtr when she was able to “cruise” by your exhausted players. The girl goes full speed every play and never comes out of the game until it is decided.
Your team played well yesterday and I gave them credit. Your coach may or may not be as good as you say, Im not going to judge that. But consider these points:
After this year how’s your team look?
Ossining will be much weaker without Saniya for sure, but will still be Sectional favorite.
Did you have a chance to see any of the JV game last night? Its speaks volumes about the depth and quality of the programs.
Conditioning is definitely an issue for your team. Potentially cost you a chance at a big upset. If not addressed it will catch up to you in states.
It’s a proud day for Saniya Chong. She is a pure basketball player. More importantly, she is an intelligent and delightful young lady. I wish her well at UCONN. I have to give my kudos to Hamilton HS. The game was theirs to win until the last 4 minutes of the game. The outstanding offense played by Maia Hood and Tiffiay Corselli as well as Jasmine Robinson’s strong defense will catapult them to the states. Hamilton made a statement that they are in it to win it all.
@ Science 1, i like Hamilton as i do Ossining and for sure the coach works on getting his team in shape especially if they run into a deep bench team like Oss moving forward. I guess Ossining was suppose to blow Hamilton out? just couldnt see that happening with the type of talent on the floor that night. Either way, if Hamilton make some open shots and free throws missed the game would have been over even with Chong going off.
IF they made foul shots, IF they weren’t tired, IF they didn’t have Sinaya, IF they made three pointers, IF the refs were better… STOP!!! That’s why the game is played not just compared on paper.
Two great teams, one great game! One team had to win and the better team that night did.
SJ, IF Ossining didn’t go 2 for 18 in the first half from the 3 pt line it would’ve been a blowout for Ossining. If, if….Bottom line Ossining is the better team!!!
It was just announced that Chong and Ricci were selected player and coach of the week by sports illustrated! Congrats !
@ Science 1, congrats to Ricci & Chong as well!!
Ossining is only better because of their bench & yes Chong is amazing … & if Hamilton didn’t missed all the shots they had taken, then what? Both teams missed a ton of shots Chong hit hers in the end which made the difference, it was just a well coached game.