By PAUL GOTHAM
MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y. — Ava Thayer scored six of her 12 points and added an assist during a 19-9 second-half run, and the Keshequa girls’ basketball team advanced to the NYS Class D Far West Regional with a 46-32 victory over Andover/Whitesville, Tuesday night at Mount Morris High School.
Leading 22-18 early in the third quarter, Thayer connected on back-to-back 3-pointers.
“She got a couple really good looks and drained them,” Keshequa head coach Pete Piraino said of the sophomore guard. “At halftime, we talked about what we needed to do. We needed to move more on offense and do some of the things we need to do. Ava got us started.”
Class D Regional Qualifier: Ava Thayer connects from behind the arc. Keshequa 25-20. pic.twitter.com/7rgPLauLzB
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 7, 2023
Two possessions later, Thayer got in a passing lane for a steal and led teammate Ryley Benner into the open court for a layup. Benner followed with a steal and basket. The Keshequa advantage was double digits at 32-20.
Ava Thayer steal, ahead to Ryley Benner for 2, and the Keshequa lead is 10 at 30-20. pic.twitter.com/sJ2ys7Pw1P
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
Kelsey Davis came off the bench and hit a pair of wing jumpers to keep the run going.
“Kelsey Davis made some big shots,” Piraino said. “She doesn’t play a real lot, but she takes advantage of her opportunities to do some of the things we need to do.”
Kelsey Davis comes off the bench and connects on her first of back-to-back wing jumpers. Keshequa 37-23. pic.twitter.com/A2SCk2NE2x
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
The win was the fifth straight and ninth in the past 10 games for Keshequa (19-5) which advanced to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
“Having eight players that can contribute that’s been key,” Piraino said of his team’s late-season success. “They know what they’re doing. I can put them in at any point. I have complete confidence in them. I don’t think too many teams can have eight players like us that are interchangeable.”
Thayer had four steals, four rebounds and three assists in the win. Libby Benner matched Thayer with a team-high 12 points to go with 10 rebounds and three assists. Ryley Benner accounted for eight points, four rebounds and four steals.
Rebound and putback, Libby Benner. Keshequa 41-27. pic.twitter.com/1B4esw6ioi
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
Braelyn Isaman collected 12 rebounds, four steals, four points and three assists. Davis (4), Julia Wilkins (4) and Riley Nageldinger (2) rounded out the scoring for the Indians.
Andover/Whitesville’s Vanessa Hall led all scorers with 17 points. The senior forward connected six times from the floor and converted 5-of-8 free throws.
Class D Regional Qualifier: Ryley Benner connects from the corner. Keshequa 20 Andover/Whitesville 8 @SecVGBasketball pic.twitter.com/UllzLIrj0l
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 7, 2023
With Andover/Whitesville trailing 22-11 late in the second quarter, Hall sparked a 7-0 run that carried over into the third stanza. Zoe Baert’s rebound and putback made it a 22-18 game less than two minutes into the second half.
Baert finished with seven points. Kennedy Bledsoe (3), Lexy Palmatier (3) and Gabby Terhune (2) also scored for Andover/Whitesville.
Keshequa will play Section VI champion Panama in the NYS Class D Far West Regional. A 1 p.m. tip-off is scheduled at Buffalo State College on Saturday.
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