Lady Devils Seek Fresh, Smooth Start In States

POTSDAM - OFA showed several positive signs in the last three quarters of Friday night's 55-36 loss to Malone, the state's seventh-ranked Class A team, in the Section 10 Girls Basketball Championship game.

Unfortunately the effects were muffled on the scoreboard by Malone's exceptional defensive abilities and a 22-5 first quarter deficit incurred by the Lady Devils playing their second game without the services of all-star center Elissa St. Germain who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Despite first half foul trouble, senior guard Megan Morrison shared scoring honors with 18 points from quick release jumpers off solid screens and drives to the basket. Sophomore forward Mackenzie Cole continued her late-season emergence as an athletic inside scorer and the Devils were able to force turnovers with a fullcourt press in the fourth quarter.

"We did a lot of good things tonight but we just didn't box out well and when we play in the states on Tuesday we have to get out to a good start," said OFA Coach Mark Henry.

"I thought we ran some very nice offensive sets and that will be a big key on Tuesday. We will have to be very disciplined on offense."

The 14-8 and number 19 state-ranked Devils will host Section 7 Champion Saranac Central (17-4) in the regional semi-finals on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at SUNY Potsdam. The winner advances to the regional finals against the Section 2 Champion on Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College.

Saranac Central reversed two regular season losses in beating Northeast Clinton 63-53 in the Section 7 title game and in doing so presented retiring coach Chad Keysor with his 300th career win.

Kelsey Johnson and Brittany Marshall, this season's NAC Central Co-MVPs, both scored eight points in the first quarter where Malone jumped out to the big lead. Sparked by seven points from Morrison (3 steals), the 2009 Central MVP, the Devils cut the margin to 27-16 in the second quarter but the Huskies buried three straight jumpers to open the third quarter and methodically cruised to their program's fourth overall title in five years and its 10th crown since 1996.

"These girls play defense as well as any of the Malone teams I've seen in 18 years and they did a good job on defense all night," said Coach Skelly after the 20-1 Huskies recorded their 18th straight win off a loss to Northeastern Clinton on December 5th.

"Our second quarter wasn't very good but we made nice adjustments. Offensively we moved the ball well and had consistently good looks."

Johnson finished with 18 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and four assists to lead the winners.

Marshall, who provided unceasing energy out of the backcourt, finished with 14 points and Sarah Lamica (6 rebounds) provided seven points in the low blocks. Steph Skelly netted six after hitting two jumpers to help ignite the early pull-away.

Cole followed with six points and five rebounds on strong finishes and Meg Dodge and Chelsea Martin (5 rebounds, 3 steals), who took the ball down the lane very aggressively, each tallied five points for OFA which saw a six-game win streak snapped.

Lindsay Drummond (2 points) grabbed four rebounds and also passed out two assists.