Massena Girls Defend Section 10 Crown

The Massena Lady Raiders basketball squad defended their Section 10 Class A crown when they held off the Lady Huskies, 41-36, at SUNY Potsdam’s Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.

Malone struck first when Morgan Fountain fired through a three-pointer to start the scoring. Alisha Jacobs answered back with a three-pointer of her own and the first of her trio of threes. Massena continued to build a first quarter lead of 9-7.

Malone pulled ahead 14-9 early in the second quarter when Janelle Heden drained a pair of three-pointers. Dominique Valancius got Massena back on track when she buried a three-pointer while Sidney Thompson tied the game 14-14. Marissa Manley pulled the Lady Raiders 16-14 when she put away two free throws. With 1:06 left in the second, Jacobs put in her second three-pointer to give Massena a 21-16 halftime lead.

Both teams started out slow in the third period until Thompson made it 23-15 with 5:36 left. The Lady Raiders pulled further ahead 31-19 when Jacobs and Erin Francis made back-to-back threes. Malone’s Rachel Lamica made a late basket to end the period 31-21.

The Lady Huskies roared out in the third period to score nine points and cut Massena’s lead to 33-30. In the final minutes, baskets were exchanged between the two teams and Fountain fired a three pointer to make the score 39-36 with 38 seconds left of regulation play. Thompson was given two free throws and made both to give Massena the 41-36 win.

Jacobs was the game high scorer with 15 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Manley followed with 10 points, and eight boards. Thompson tallied eight while Francis netted five and Valancius chipped in three points and four steals. Steffanie Premo contributed five assists.

The Lady Raiders now advance to the Section 10 semi finals on Tuesday, February 26th.