The winner of five sectional titles in the past six years and the team who unseated them last season. Elba and Andover/Whitesville will do battle in a rematch of last year’s semifinal matchup on Saturday for the Girls’ Class D2 title. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 1 seed ANDOVER/WHITESVILLE (17-4/Allegany County Division 2)
vs.
No 6 seed ELBA LANCERS (13-10/Genesee Region Division 2)
Scoring offense: Andover/Whitesville (57.9 PPG), Elba (52.2 PPG)
Scoring defense: Andover/Whitesville (30.0 PPG), Elba (45.0 PPG)
Current streak: Andover/Whitesville has won seven straight. Elba has won five straight.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM RON ANDREWS.
How they arrived here: Andover/Whitesville defeated No. 9 Houghton Academy, 65-28, in the quarterfinals and followed it up by knocking off No. 5 Hammondsport, 47-38, in the semis. Elba cruised past No. 11 Hinsdale, 79-24, in the first round, upset No. 3 C. G. Finney, 47-31, in the quarterfinals, and downed No. 7 Scio/Friendship, 47-34 in the semis.
Players to watch:
Andover/Whitesville: Vanessa Hall 5-foot-9 Sr. G 27.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.3 SPG, 2.5 BPG Gabbi Hall 5-foot-4 Sr. G 6.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.3 APG Kennedy Bledsoe 5-foot-8 Sr. G 9.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 SPG Zoe Baert 5-foot-9 Sr. F 6.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG Graci Lewis-Ellison 3.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.9 APG
Elba: Sydney Reilly 5-foot-4 So. G 17.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.1 SPG Halie Deville 5-foot-8 Jr. F 7.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.3 BPG Mariah Ognibene 5-foot-7 So. G 6.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG Kennedy Augello 5-foot-5 Jr. G 6.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG Lydia Ross 5-foot-3 Fr. G 6.8 PPG, 2.1 SPG
Coaches: Jacob Bannerman/Aaron Rawady (Andover/Whitesville), Charlie Pangrazio (Elba)
History 101: This is a rematch of last year’s D2 semifinals. Andover/Whitesville knocked off Elba in that game 45-43. Previously Andover/Whitesville had operated as individual programs. Elba knocked off Whitesville in the 2019 sectional final in the most recent matchup.
Andover/Whitesville is seeking back-to-back sectional titles after winning Class D2 last season. Last season’s title was the first for the program’s history.
The Lancers are seeking to win their sixth title in the last seven seasons and 16th overall. Elba rattled off five consecutive titles prior to last season winning the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 championships. Elba is looking to win its first championship under current head coach Charlie Pangrazio.
What’s next: The winner will face the Class D1 Champion (either Keshequa or Lyndonville) in the NYS Class D Far West Regional qualifier.
A 4:30 p.m. tip off is scheduled at Letchworth High School.
*Day an time of game have been changed to reflect updated schedule.
Leave a Reply