By TIM IRVING
Winning Sectional titles is becoming a regular occurence at Midlakes.
“Every Sectional final morning I wake up and I’m nervous, “said Screaming Eagles coach Nate Rich. “It’s an excitement for the kids and I can’t wait until tip-off.”
His team won a third Sectional title in five seasons, 51-41 over Wellsville in the Class B2 final at Rush-Henrietta on Friday.
The second quarter was a battle between Lions’ freshman Makenna Dunbar and Midlakes junior Kate Mahoney. Dunbar scored eight points in the second quarter.
Mahoney, running the floor, scored six of her eight first half points in the first half and Midlakes had a 19-16 lead at the half,
“We like to push the tempo and we knew they weren’t used to having a fast-pace competition,” Mahoney said.
The Screaming Eagles threatened to run away in the third quarter but Wellsville kept pounding the ball down inside to Dunbar.
With time running out in the third, Camryn Ford stuck a three-pointer and the lead was 33-26.
The Lions’ shooters, quiet for the first three quarters, started to heat up and got the lead down to two on Emily Costello’s three-pointer.
But the Screaming Eagles had a height advantage. Callie Walker scored off an in-bounds pass and Midlakes kept their lead.
It came down to top-seeded Midlakes (18-5) making free throws and they did that, sticking 12-of-15 to close out the Sectional title.
The Screaming Eagles feature all juniors except four sophomores, realistically, this won’t be the last we see of Midlakes.
“Since we were in seventh grade, we’ve dreamed about winning a Sectional title and we finally got it and with no seniors, we have another year left,” said
“Winning a Sectional title is our goal, we looked at our bracket and thought we had a chance to win it from day 1. I told the kids, we have the team to make a State run,” Rich said.
Mahoney, who earned MVP honors with 10 points. Grace Murphy led the way for Midlakes with eight of her 11 points coming in the second half. Dunbar scored 11 to lead Wellsville.
SCORING
3-Wellsville 41
Marley Adams 7, Jaylynn Mess 3, Emily Costello 8, Jaelyn Knapp 8, Kaylee Coleman 4, Makenna Dunbar 11.
1-Midlakes 51
Kate Mahoney 10, Camryn Ford 3, Callie Walker 10, Stella DelPapa 7, Grace Murphy 11, Hanna Godkin 6, Cate Peacock 4.
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