IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR…LADY REDSKINS HEAD TO FINAL FOUR WITH WIN OVER FRANKLIN
Fred Miller-MHTS
Photos-Kevin Montano-MHTS
Following Saturday’s tension filled Class D Regional girls basketball win by Oriskany, 51-46, over the Franklin Purple Devils from Section IV, one fact became rather evident; in Oriskany, it’s a family affair.
That fact become rather evident when the victorious Lady Redskins posed for another “family portrait” on the court at Oneonta State University’s Dewar gymnasium.
The evidence regarding the family affair theme continued to mount, as Oriskany (22-0) head coach Angela Meiss headed over to our broadcast location to join us in our post-game interview on ESPN radio, with her young son in her arms being balanced on her hip with one hand, while she slipped on a set of headphones to start the interview.
# 20 Brandi Zizzi buries a long three ball.
This tight knit group of coaches and players earned a chance to play for a New York State Class D championship next weekend at Hudson Valley community College.
Speaking of the players, it took a full complement of Lady Redskins to dampen the hopes of the Purple Devils in this battle of two undefeated Class D powers.
The Section IV quintet was led by guard Jordan Beers, a well schooled, and extremely talented guard who poured his heart into all thirty two minutes of action, and poured in 30 points to scare the you know what out of the Redskins nation.
The only people who seemed to remain composed were the ones wearing maroon and white uniforms. The Oriskany vets made sure their post season run would not end in Oneonta.
Shannon VanShufflin calmly nailed a long three-point shot, as the third quarter wound down giving the Skins a five point lead, 36-31, after three quarters of play.
Speaking of three’s, it took eight of them, you heard me right, by Oriskany, to help secure the win.
Most of the long balls came in big spots and made them even more meaningful. Brandi Zizzi was dialing long distance all day long knocking down four three’s, Shannon VanShufflin, three and Hannah Hoehn one.
It took those 24 points and more to put this one into the win column.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way, as Oriskany jumped out to a 14-4 lead after eight minutes of action. The Redskins raced to a 7-0 lead, as Madison Zizzi netted 4 of her 8 points early on.
It was the Zizzi show early on, as Brandi hit one of her four three balls and scored five of her team high 14 points in the opening eight.
# 33 Jordan Sahl battles for a board.
Oriskany also got 11 points and 12 boards from Jordan Sahl. Senior guard Shannon VanShufflin scored 9 points and handed out eight assists and the Zizzi’s sisters, Madison and Brandi accounted for 22 of their teams 51 points, Brandi 14 and Madison Zizzi, added 8 points.
The Oriskany lead became 14 points when Christina Graziadei hit from the field for the first time with 4:25 left until halftime.
The Devils made it their primary mission to take Oriskany’s leading scorer, Graziadei, out of the offensive equation. Christina ended up with 6 points and 12 rebounds.
Franklin decided enough was enough as super-soph, Jordan Beers netted five of her thirty points as the Devils started to find their groove.
How good is Beers? Way good. In her young hoops career Beers has already scored just over 1,900 points. Her nineteen second half points forced the Redskins to really focus down the stretch.
Oriskany kept the pressure on as Hannah Hoehn found the range, then Jordan Madison Zizzi banked one off the glass to push the lead to 27-16 at the intermission.
Here come the Devils. Jordan Beers and Marisa Cawley had seen enough. The duo scored 13 of Franklin’s 15 third quarter points to make this a game.
The big fourteen point Oriskany lead was just five 30-25 when Cawley scored with 4:46 left in the third.
The lead was just two points, 33-31, as the Devils tried to race past the Skins with their third quarter rally following another Beers field goal.
Then came the 2013 version of “the shot” as Shannon VanShufflin nailed a three from the top of the key, as the third quarter came to a close with Oriskany now up 36-31.
VanShufflin’s three points were huge, as her teammates let out a collective sigh of relief, as the third quarter came to a close.
# 24 Shannon VanShufflin directs traffic for the Redskins.
As you probably have heard, it takes a village (Oriskany) to get things done on a stage like this. A member of that village, Jordan Sahl, saved her best for last, scoring 5 of her 11 points in the decisive fourth quarter.
Sahl’s biggest 2 points of the day came from the free-throw line where she sank a pair with 1.7 seconds left to give her team the final breathing room it would need, giving the Redskins a 51-46 lead to sew this one up.
Speaking of free throws, Christina Graziadei hit a big one with 9.1 seconds left to make it a three point lead 49-46. As we said, it takes a village.
It took all this and then some to squash the comeback bid Franklin mounted down the stretch. Jordan Beers poured in twelve of her thirty points to try and keep her team’s Final Four Dreams alive.
It was not to be, as Oriskany held on for the win that sets up a Saturday showdown at 9:00AM against Livingston Manor, as the Redskins ranked #2 in the latest New York State poll survive and advance.
Oriskany 51 Franklin 46
1 2 3 4 Total
Franklin 4 12 15 15 51
Oriskany 14 13 9 15 56
MHTS Scoring Summary:
Franklin:
Jordan Beers-30
Marisa Cawley-11
Haley Downin-5
Having a ball! Lady Redskins celebrate!
Oriskany:
Brandi Zizzi-14
Jordan Sahl-11
Shannon VanShufflin-9
Madison Zizzi-8
Christina Graziadei-6
Hannah Hoehn-3
