By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – There were no stockings hung by fire or presents under the tree, but for Canandaigua head coach Mike Brennan Saturday afternoon at Rush-Henrietta High School felt a little like late December.
Tournament MVP Mya Herman scored 14 of her game-high 25 points in the second half as the second-seeded Canandaigua Braves defeated No. 1 Pittsford Sutherland, 55-46 in the 2023 Class A championship game.
The title was the first for the Canandaigua girls’ program since 2009.
“Imagine if Christmas came only once every (14) years,” Brennan said. “That’s how good it feels.
“Hope to make it more of an annual thing, but we’ll start with one. The kids did a tremendous job.”
In a game where neither team led by more than four points for 17-plus minutes, Herman’s baseline jumper that beat the third-quarter buzzer gave Canandaigua a 32-27 lead.
Mya Herman connects along the baseline. Heading to the fourth @SecVGBasketball Class A: Canandaigua 32 Sutherland 27 pic.twitter.com/m7WIKZN32S
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2023
The Braves did not allow Sutherland any closer.
“It was one of those games where there wasn’t going to be anything schematically we did,” Brennan said. “The kids just made plays and sometimes it really is that simple. That’s not just coach talk. Kids making shots.”
Sophomore Julia Geitner connected on the go-ahead basket with a corner 3.
Kyleigh Chapman got loose along the baseline to open the fourth-quarter scoring. Liv Schorr and Herman both converted pairs of free throws before Geitner took advantage of foul beyond the arc for three more from the stripe.
Canandaigua’s advantage was double digits at 41-32.
The win was the eighth straight for Canandaigua (19-5) including a 60-40 victory over Sutherland (19-4) in early February.
“I knew we weren’t 20 points better than them,” said Brennan who guarded against his squad being complacent heading into Saturday’s matchup. “They’re really good. We just shot the ball really that night. I didn’t want to rely on us shooting the ball well. I knew it was going to be close.”
An adjustment on the offensive end of the floor sparked Canandaigua.
“They’re so good defensively,” Brennan said of Sutherland. “We tried to open up the center and we went with five perimeter players.
“Our starting center, we took her out and put Julia in. So we had five perimeter players to try and get them to guard the whole court instead of jamming up the lane.”
Geitner delivered with three 3-pointers and 14 points.
“I can’t believe how confident she was shooting the ball,” Brennan said of the sophomore guard. “She’s been shooting it well, but to just let it go like that in a championship game, I give that kid a ton of credit.
“It’s tough to make three free throws in a row. That is huge.”
Julia Geitner connects from the corner. Canandaigua 30-27. pic.twitter.com/QKIsRorN8o
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 4, 2023
Geitner and Chapman joined Herman on the All-Tournament team along with Ellie Bergin (Sutherland), Leora Cook (Sutherland), Aubrey Smith (Irondequoit) and Audrey Hintz (Our Lady of Mercy).
Bergin opened the scoring in the contest, and Sutherland started with a 7-0 lead.
Canandaigua responded with seven straight of its own. The Braves led 12-11 after one quarter.
Chapman finished with eight points. Schorr had six.
Bergin led Sutherland with 19. Cecilia Peinado-Calvo had 12. Cook (8), Annie Dodge (3) and Eden Lewis (2) also scored for Sutherland.
Canandaigua will play the Section VI representative next Saturday in the Class A Far West Regional.
*Article has been updated to correct Canandaigua head coach’s name.
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