By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — One year after dropping a heartbreaker in the final seconds, the Hornell girls’ basketball team left nothing to chance on Saturday afternoon.
Jordyn Dyring poured in 32 points, and Selena Maldonado added 17 as the Red Raiders rolled past Section VI champ Salamanca, 68-32 in New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B quarterfinal action at Buffalo State College.
The victory clinched the program’s first trip to the state semifinals.
“It’s really awesome,” said Hornell head coach Jim Dagon noting the support he has received from the school’s athletic department and the community. “I go to Wegmans the last few days and people that I don’t even know are saying ‘Hey coach, great job! Good luck!’ It’s just so awesome being in the community and being able to coach a special group like this.”
Leading 37-17 at halftime, Hornell put the game away in the opening four minutes of the third quarter.
“We definitely didn’t want to take our foot off the gas,” Dagon said. “I thought they did an even better job with defensive communication in the second half. Kudos to the kids for playing 32 minutes.
“The fact that there’s eight team playing right now and Salamanca is one of them. They’re capable, so we can’t think we’re safe or anything. The girls knew it, and they’ve been so hungry to get to the l state tournament and be successful.”
A year ago, the Red Raiders built a 19-point first-half lead before falling to Southwestern, 63-61. Reece Beaver hit the game winner with 2.1 seconds remaining to end Hornell’s season in the state quarterfinals.
“I had that in my mind, but I did not remind them at halftime,” Dagon said. “I didn’t want that to creep into our minds at all today, but I thought about it a lot. That’s for sure.”
Dyring hit three 3-pointers and scored 13 in the third quarter.
“It feels amazing,” she said of the regional championship. “I drew a couple fouls driving early in the game, so they started to back off and give me space. I started shooting.”
The Red Raiders scored on seven straight possessions at one point in the third.
“We wanted to have a lot of energy,” Maldonado said of the mindset coming out of the locker room. “We wanted to finish the job.”
Payton Bentley added eight points in the win. Mia Nasca (6), Alexis Smith (2), Reagan Evingham (2) and Teegan Eveland also scored.
Leilene McComber led Salamanca with 11 points.
Hornell will face either Yonkers Montessori Academy (I) or Chenango Forks (IV) in the state semifinals.
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