SPORTS RECAP: Week of 2-27-19

Watkins Glen girls basketball advances with wins
WATKINS GLEN--The Watkins Glen girls varsity basketball team beat Delaware Academy, 61-35, in the Section IV Class C quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 22.
Taylor Kelly netted 21 points, including a trio of three-point shots, two rebounds, and two steals. Adrienna Solomon posted 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Danielle Leszyk added eight points, with a pair of three-point shots and two assists. Kelsey Kernan also had eight points, with two rebounds. Hannah Morse scored seven points, with two three-point shots, eight assists, six steals, and five rebounds. Aislinn Klemann also had a pair of three-point shots and two rebounds.
With the win, the Senecas' record is now 17-4. Watkins is scheduled to face Newfield in the Class C semifinals, Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Watkins topped Union Springs in the first round of sectional play, Tuesday, Feb. 19. The final score was 57-24.
Kelly led with 14 points and four rebounds. Leszyk and Morse both earned 10 points. Leszyk added three steals and three assists, while Morse posted eight steals and five assists. Klemann netted seven points, with two rebounds and two assists. Kernan, Solomon, and Slater all scored four points.
Boys basketball
The Senecas' boys varsity basketball team lost to Lansing in the Section IV Class C quarterfinals, 56-51, Saturday, Feb. 23. Watkins was seeded sixth, while Lansing was third in Class C.
The Watkins team started the sectional bracket with a win against Tioga, Thursday, Feb. 21. The final score was 57-45.
Indoor track
Watkins' Gabe Planty advances to the New York state indoor track championship this Saturday, March 2, following his first place win at the qualifiers, Saturday, Feb. 23.
Planty took first in the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:28.39. The top two finishers in each event will compete at the state championship.
Watkins had a total of five athletes compete in the qualifiers. Kaylana Rekczis took fourth in the 1500 meter race walk with a personal record of 8:45.46. Haley Dean moved up in sectional seeding by taking 15th in the 300 meter with a personal best of 47.79 seconds. Lance Majors placed 20th in the 300 meter with 44.59 seconds and 23rd in the 600 meter with a time of 1:42.19. Breanna Carl won 17th in the 1500 meter with a time of 6:06.69.

Houseknecht wins first-ever state wrestling title
ALBANY--The Odessa-Montour/Watkins Glen wrestling team's Dylan Houseknecht won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division 2 championship, Saturday, Feb. 23.
Houseknecht won the 285 weight class in overtime against Newark Valley's Trentyn Rupert. He is also the first Odessa-Montour wrestler to win a state title.
"It's unbelievable all the dedication and heart you have to have," said Houseknecht after winning. "Us big guys aren't really in the best of shape, but I feel like I pushed myself to the max, especially in this match going into overtime."
He also talked about the support of family, friends and coaches, "My phone has been blowing up all day, my athletic director, superintendent, all my family and friends back home text me 'How you doing?, How you doing? We're watching you,' it's great!"
The only other Odessa wrestler to place in the state championship was Troy Monks (98) taking fourth in 1985.
Girls basketball
The Indians' girls varsity basketball team fell to Unatego, 51-43, in the Section IV Class C quarterfinal, Friday, Feb. 22.
Sara Gardner led with 18 points, all scored in the second half. Olivia Grover posted 16 points. Kennedey Heichel netter five points, with four assists. Grace Vondracek added two points and eight rebounds, while Alexis Saunders also scored two points.
"We gave a great effort but made too many mistakes to knock off a one seed on their home floor," said Coach Greg Gavich.
With the loss, Odessa ends the season with a 14-7 record.
Gavich said five seniors will be graduating from the team, including three starters who have played a combined 14 seasons of varsity basketball. He added, "it will be strange to not see them at practice next year. But we have a strong core returning and some solid JV players moving up next year."
The Odessa-Montour girls defeated Greene, 52-44, in the first round of sectional games, Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Gardner led with 14 points and three assists. Saunders netted 12 points. Grover scored 11 points, with eight rebounds and five blocks. Heichel earned nine points and six assists. Kara Reese posted five points, while Jolynn Minnier scored one.
"A crazy comeback by us tonight," said Gavich. "A 13-0 run to start the fourth got us the lead. (...) Greene took the lead back at 42-42, but Lexi buried a three to give us the lead for good. We hit 6-for-6 at the line in the final 30 seconds to clinch it."

Indoor track concludes at RIT; girls and boys fall
ROCHESTER--Dundee's Matt Wood and Lily Hall competed in the New York state qualifier for indoor track at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Friday, Feb. 22.
Wood placed ninth overall in the 1600 meter run with a time of 4:48.97. Hall placed 10th in the triple jump with a personal best of 35' 3.25". She also placed eighth in the long jump with a 16'2" jump.
Girls basketball
The Lady Scots varsity basketball team lost a close game, 36-31, at the Section V Class C3 round one game, Tuesday, Feb. 19.
"After a great defensive first half, the Lady Scots led by a score of 13-6," said Coach Michael Strait. "Unfortunately, the defense couldn't maintain the same intensity in the second half. That, paired with a number of big shots not falling for the Lady Scots was the difference and why Pavilion was able to come out on top."
Mackenzie Strait led the Lady Scots with 11 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Megan Sutherland netted 10 points. Makenzie Cratsley added five points, 15 rebounds, and five steals. Hallie Knapp earned five points and seven rebounds.
Boys basketball
Dundee's boys varsity basketball team fell to Naples in the Section V Class C3 opening round, Tuesday, Feb. 19. The final score was 53-38.
Austin Gibson led with eight points, six rebounds, and four assists. Nick McCurry had six points, followed by Cody Salamendra and Brandon Edmister with five points each. Salamendra also had four rebounds and Edmister earned three.
Preston Cratsley posted four points and six rebounds, while Michael Hand also had four points, three steals and three rebounds.

Penn Yan girls, boys end season at quarterfinal
DANSVILLE--The Penn Yan girls varsity basketball team fell to Dansville in the Section V Class B2 quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 22. The final score was 75-48.
Jenna Curbeau led with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four steals. Peyton Comfort followed with 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Sierra Harrison posted 10 points and two rebounds, while Hayley Andersen had seven points. Joddie Decker scored four points, with eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Jammie Decker added two points and 10 rebounds.
The Lady Mustangs beat LeRoy, 65-42, in the first round of sectionals, Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Comfort posted 20 points and 13 rebounds. Curbeau scored 13 points, with 13 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Joddie Decker netted 11 points, with four assists. Harrison added 10 points and four assists. Jammie Decker and Alex Cox both scored four points, while Andersen had three points.
Boys basketball
The Mustangs' boys varsity basketball team fell to Attica, 66-58, in the Section V Class B2 quarterfinals, Saturday, Feb. 23.
Peyton Schuck led with 14 points, including four three-point shots. Devon Gerhardt posted 12 points, all three-point shots. Conner Fingar followed with 11 points, while Mason Kuver had eight points. Kyle Berna netted seven points. Kyler Lloyd added four points and Peter Nicholson posted two.

Lakers advance to semifinal
HAMMONDSPORT--The Hammondsport girls varsity basketball team defeated Jasper-Troupsburg in the Section V Class D1 quarterfinals, Friday, Feb. 22. The final score was 61-32.
Ana Salom led with 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Destiny Hammond posted nine points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Tea Flynn added seven points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Shelby Sherman, Paula Garcia, and Rorie Whitcomb all netted six points. Sherman also had four assists and four rebounds. Jillian Underhill contributed four points, seven rebounds, six steals, and three assists. McKenzie Boscoe scored two points, with seven rebounds, while Hannah Hoerter also posted two points.
Boys basketball
Hammondsport's boys varsity basketball team lost to Batavia-Notre Dame, Wednesday, Feb. 20, in the first round of the Section V Class D1 tournament. The final score was 85-45. With the loss, the Lakers end the season with an 8-13 record.