WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – High school basketball took center stage on Sunday with exciting games in the Northern Athletic Conference.
In Lisbon, the Golden Knights faced off against OFA in a girls’ matchup. The game started strong with Regan Pirie scoring a layup and drawing a foul, putting Lisbon ahead early. OFA quickly responded with Amya LaFlair racing down the court to score, tying the game. LaFlair then set up Carlee Thompson for another basket, giving the Blue Devils a two-point lead.
The back-and-forth continued until Pirie sank a three-pointer for Lisbon. Ultimately, the Golden Knights triumphed over OFA with a commanding score of 78-28.
This week marks the beginning of the postseason in the Frontier League, featuring both boys’ and girls’ playoffs. The Sackets Harbor Patriots aim to defend their title in the Frontier League D division. They have been impressive this season, finishing with a record of 14-4 overall and an undefeated 11-0 in league play.
Players and coaches emphasize the importance of teamwork and solid defense in their quest for another championship. “Defense is key,” said player Marcus Castine. “Scoring is important, but we need to focus on stopping our opponents.” Jake Peters added, “Hard work in practice and attention to detail will take us far.” Coach Dale Phillips stressed teamwork: “We need to come together as one, just like we did last year.”
Meanwhile, in college basketball, the JCC women’s team continues to shine, extending their winning streak to 14 games with a narrow 70-66 victory against Sullivan Community College. Coach Jeff Wiley credits their strong start to a challenging early season schedule, which pushed them to improve quickly.
“Those tough games set the stage for our Mid-State conference run,” Wiley explained. His team is currently undefeated at 10-0 in conference play. Looking ahead, a crucial matchup against OCC on February 18 will likely determine who hosts the Mid-State Conference final.
As the postseason unfolds, all eyes will be on the teams as they strive for success on the court.