Pioneer downs East in Class A final
Girls hoops
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville East's Anna Stolzenburg, right, and Pioneer's Latisha Hartman battle for a loose ball during the Lady Flames' 62-38 loss to Pioneer in the Section VI Class A final on Saturday at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Athletic Center. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Williamsville East knew that Pioneer had a ton of weapons on offense. Stopping them was the challenge.

The Lady Flames put forth a great effort against Pioneer but it wasn't enough, losing, 62-38, in the Section VI Class A title game on Saturday at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.

East played a box-and-one defense on 6-foot-2 Joelle Connelly, who two days earlier set the Western New York career scoring record for girls basketball, and the Hofstra University bound senior was held to 17 points (four baskets, 8 of 8 free throws).

While Connelly was held down, others for Pioneer stepped up their game, including Erin Asquith, who scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter. Six other Pioneer players scored at least five points.

Williamsville East's Bridget Steele, right, grabs a rebound in the Lady Flames' 41-38 win over Grand Island in the Section VI Class A-1 final last Thursday at Erie Community College's Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.

"They just have too much firepower," said East coach Chris Durr. "They have three post players who score and four or five guards that can handle the ball, shoot the three, hustle and work hard."

"It's an awesome group of kids," added Pioneer coach Max Payne. "The mix is really nice. We've got eight seniors but a lot of young kids that contribute. They all get along. They work towards a common goal. It's funny how good things can happen when they're all on the same page."

Pioneer led right from the start. Connelly won the opening tip and after two quick passes, Alyxis Mitrowski drained a three from the top of the key.

Durr said his team missed at least six layups in the first half because Pioneer's defense forced them into taking rushed shots.

Pioneer went up, 15-6, after the first quarter and, 23-13, at halftime.

"I told them at halftime, 'you're in this game,'" said Durr. "If we want to win, we have to limit as many mistakes as possible, make our layups, and take advantage of our opportunities."

East kept it an 11-point game early in the third quarter but Pioneer went on a 6-0 run to go ahead, 33-16. The Lady Flames got the score back down to 36-23 but Pioneer's Suzie Farner scored a basket, was fouled on the play and hit the free throw to extend the advantage to 39-23. Pioneer led, 43-28, at the end of the third quarter.

Pioneer outscored East, 19-10, in the fourth quarter.

Bridget Steele led East with eight points, all in the third quarter, and three assists. Taylor Klun and Aleece Burgio each scored six points. Burgio also grabbed five rebounds. Neha Bakhai, Jordan Kowalski and Courtney Hawkins each scored four. Sarah Dopofibanked in a three. Jessica Kowalski scored two points. Anna Stolzenburg added one point.

East shot 13 of 46 from the floor, 6 of 12 from the free throw line and committed 17 turnovers.

Connelly added 15 rebounds and five blocks for Pioneer.

"This is something that Joelle really wanted more so than her record," said Payne. "She really wanted to get to the state tournament. She's a real unselfish player."

"I would rather get as far as we can in the state tournament than score my points," said Connelly.

To face Pioneer, East held off Grand Island, 41-38, on Thursday at ECC to win the A-1 title for the second time in four straight appearances. Since Durr has coached East, they've appeared in a section final 10 of the 13 years and won six section titles.

"To win a sectional championship without a designated star, it's a tribute to how hard the kids have worked," said Durr. "I'm proud of them."

East jumped out to a 15-9 first quarter lead and 24-15 halftime advantage.

Durr didn't want his team to get too overconfident because Grand Island played well in the second half of games and the trend continued. The Lady Vikings went on a 9-2 run in the first three minutes of the second half to cut the deficit to, 26-24, and outscored East, 13-8, in the third quarter to trail, 32-28.

"All of their baskets came on the fastbreak and our inability to get back and play good transition defense," said Durr.

In the fourth quarter, Grand

Island never took the lead but always stayed close. Every time we pushed the score to five or seven, Grand Island made a couple of baskets to cut it to three or two," said Durr.

Durr said his team went 0 of 7 in the final 30 seconds from the free throw line and got key rebounds down the stretch from Klun, Stolzenburg and Burgio.

"That was big," said Durr. "I only wished we could have done a better job at the free throw line."

East finished 14 of 28 from the foul line. Grand Island missed its first two free throws and went 14 of 14 the rest of the game.

Bakhai and Stolzenburg each scored 11. Five of Bakhai's 11 came in the first quarter. Klun scored six of her seven points in the first quarter and grabbed nine rebounds. Jessica Kowalski and Steele each added five points. Becca Rumschik scored a basket.

East shot 13 of 33 from the floor.

East's defense held Grand Island to 11 baskets (nine twos, two threes).

East finishes 17-7. They lose six seniors - Steele, Jessica Kowalski, Burgio, Hawkins, Stolzenburg and Ally Kotz.

"I can't be disappointed with this group," said Durr. "I'm happy with how we competed throughout the year."

Bakhai and Steele were named to the ECIC Division II First Team and Klun and Stolzenburg made the ECIC II Second Team.