One team is making its 10th state tournament and first in nine years. The other is looking for its first state quarterfinal win in 18 years. Our Lady of Mercy and Honeoye Falls-Lima are set to face off in a sectional final rematch in the Class A state quarterfinals. Here’s the breakdown:
HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS
(16-8 / Monroe County IV / No. 20 NYSSWA)
vs.
OUR LADY OF MERCY MONARCHS
(15-9 / Private/Parochial / No. 12 NYSSWA)
Saturday, Finger Lakes Community College, 2:30 p.m.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM STEVEN TWARDZIK.
How they arrived here: Honeoye Falls-Lima cruised past Palmyra-Macedon (44-33) and Newark (52-50) to advance to the Class A championship before falling to Our Lady of Mercy (54-35), earning at at-large bid into the state tournament and defeating Norwich (43-34) in the first round. Our Lady of Mercy defeated YWCP/EMHCS (69-46), East (56-44) and Honeoye Falls-Lima (54-35) to make the state tournament where they then beat Lake Shore (54-46).
Scoring offense: Honeoye Falls-Lima (50.5), Our Lady of Mercy (52.2)
Scoring defense: Honeoye Falls-Lima (43.1), Our Lady of Mercy (41.8)
Trends: Honeoye Falls-Lima has won five of its last six matchups to advance to the state quarterfinals. Our Lady of Mercy joins with a five-game win streak which included four straight double-digit victories.
Players to watch for Honeoye Falls-Lima: Shaye Angelo Sr. (24.6 PPG, four RPG, three STL/G, 53 3-pointers); Alysa Richards Sr. (7.8 PPG, 4.2 APG, 30 3-pointers); Sarah Smith Sr. (10 PPG, 11 RPG); Kamryn Burdett Sr. (7.3 PPG, seven RPG, two APG, 1.8 BLK/G).
Our Lady of Mercy: Laura Kosten Sr. (12 PPG, 6.0 RPG); Emerson Wandtke Fr. (15 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 3 BLK/G); Angelina Borrelli Jr. (5.0 PPG, 5.0 APG); Robin Jones Sr. (6.0 PPG, six RPG); Bridget Wise Sr. (5.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG).
Coaches: Steven Willoughby (Honeoye Falls-Lima), Tom McDonough (Our Lady of Mercy)
History 101: Making its 10th state quarterfinal appearance, Our Lady of Mercy is looking for its fifth win in regionals. The Monarchs took back-to-back quarterfinal victories in 2016 (61-30 over Lake Shore) and in 2017 (47-40 over Clarence). The Monarchs also beat Lockport in 1989 and Jamestown in 1985. Mercy also made regional appearances in 1984, ’86, ’92, ’93 and ’96. Mercy defeated Sachem (XI) in the 1985 NYS Class A championship game.
HFL is 3-0 all-time in the state quarterfinals and have advanced to the state finals each time. In 2004, the Cougars topped Grand Island before falling to Our Lady of Lourdes (I) in the NYS Class A title game. The following year, HFL beat Grand Island again and went on to claim the NYS Class A championship with a victory over Burnt Hills (II). In 2008, HF-L lost to Franklin Academy (X) in the NYS Class A championship game. On Saturday, the Cougars will be making their first state tournament appearance since then. HF-L head coach Steve Willoughby is second all-time in Section V Girls’ Basketball history with 505 wins. He trails only Kesheqau’s Pete Piraino (545).
With the NYSPHSAA implementing a three-region system for its playoffs, this is the first known matchup of Section V Girls’ Basketball teams in the state tournament.
What’s at stake: A spot in the Class A state semifinals against the winner of Franklin Academy (X) and Notre Dame (III).
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