SWEET REPEAT!

Lady Yellow Jackets Head To State Finals In Troy

3-19-10

By CHRIS McSWIGGIN


This is it. This is what you play for. This is every high school athlete’s dream – every basketball player’s fantasy.
For the Lady Yellow Jackets, this was no more than mirror image. They went through this last year, caught in this whirlwind of emotions, on this rollercoaster ride to the state championship with no chance to look back.
 “We have a very talented team and we are very confident that we can do great things this season” said senior guard Leslie Harlem, anticipating the 11:45 a.m. Friday, March 19, game against Watervliet at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy.  The winner plays in the state final at 4 p.m. Saturday.
“We are extremely excited,” said Leslie.
The Ladies are more like a family than a basketball squad, close knit just like the community behind them, the community that created the most energizing atmosphere an OHS team has experienced in quite a while in 41-33 Class B state quarterfinal victory over South Jefferson in Hartwick’s Lambros Arena Saturday, March 13.
Essentially a home game, OHS took on a second undefeated team in a row.  For a second time, Oneonta’s Davids slayed Goliaths.
Lambros Arena was rocking, packed to capacity, with everything on the line. Oneonta, perhaps feeling a sense of entitlement from last year’s defeat in the state final game, came out clicking on all cylinders.
Unlike their offensive struggles the week before against Lansing, this time the buckets were falling early and often. However, South Jefferson was able to penetrate that steel-trap defense and keep this game back and forth for quite some time – not recommended for those with weak stomachs.
South Jeff won five of the last six Section III titles, so it was not a team to be taken lightly. Oneonta knew it was getting into a slugfest, but they took the punches like champions. Every time they were knocked down, they got back up and kept fighting.
Oneonta was down 20-12 at one point, but inched ahead with a minute left in the half.  With a second to go to halftime, Sienna Wisse fired a three-pointer from halfcourt.  It cleanly slid off the backboard and through the net, bringing fans to their feet screaming with joy.
That momentum continued into the second half, with the Yellow Jackets never dropping behind, to win 41-33.
There was no question that this team had heart.  But with this victory, all questions were answered, all doubts nullified. This team is focused, poised and passionate.
What is the key to their success? As veteran – and winning coach – coach Bob Zeh once so elegantly put it, “defense. It has been defense all year”.
Oneonta has a lot of natural athletic talent, but they are streaky shooters. How do you combat not being able to score? It’s simple, you don’t let the other guy score.
Oneonta, known for their lockdown zone defense, shouldn’t have any problem with that. They have held two of the highest scoring teams in sections 3 and 4 to 33 and 27 points respectively.
“Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships”.
Those words need to echo through the rafters and run through the veins of every girl in blue and gold like ice water, and OHS will be bringing home another state title.