SCHENECTADY – It was a showdown. The top two teams in the Mountain Valley Conference met before a full house at Schenectady CCC's home court on Wednesday evening. FM supporters were there with posters urging the team on. The Schenectady Daily Gazette was there to cover the game with a major story. Both teams had eye-catching 13-3 season records. Both had lost only one game in conference play. It was time to determine which team would sit alone atop the conference standings.
Photo: A capacity crowd cheers on the two teams
The game got under way with both teams playing hard but having trouble getting their offenses up to their usual standards. The Lady Royals got on the scoreboard first with a three-pointer. A few minutes later, FM's Evanda Redwood put up a three of her own – this one from the right corner – and the score was tied at 8-8.
Monae Abrams had yet another big game for the Lady Raiders. She took a pass from Redwood and put FM ahead 10-8. The Lady Royals responded with a two and a three and led 13-10. Veronica Chea answered with a pair of free throws and a long two-pointer. FM led 14-13.
The first half continued in that intense, back-and-forth manner. Kendra Jordan drove for two and a 20-18 FM lead. Schenectady tied it. Jordan fed Abrams for two more, and FM had the narrow lead. Chea and Erica Ward worked the ball nicely to Sherice Gayle. Gayle tallied, and FM left the court with a 24-20 halftime lead.
Photo: Kendra Jordan goes to the hoop
FM's offense was back in form as the second half began. Jordan hit a big three from the left. Katrina Garrett stepped up her game, as did Stephanie Rice, who was back after missing a game with an ankle problem.
Garrett played an impressive half in her guard position. She made enabling passes and drove the lane deftly.
FM moved out to a 39-29 lead during a run in which the Raiders rebounded well, stole the ball, and sprinted hard. They led by 10 at the midway point of the half. But the Royals were playing a determined game.
The Raiders missed a few shots, and Schenectady upped their offense. The Royals got within three points, but Garrett drove for two and a five-point lead, 43-38. Rice stole the ball, sprinted, and scored. 45-38. But the Royals were hanging in there. With 4:44 to play they closed to 47-44.
Photo: Katrina Garrett adds two points
FM still led by three with 2:46 remaining. Then Kassandra Flowers made a clever drive to the hoop and gave FM a 55-50 lead.
The Lady Royals sank two free throws. With 59.1 seconds left they added another. 57-55 FM. Abrams scored, but a three-pointer by Schenectady's Sam Hall cut FM's lead to 59-58.
Abrams hustled and tallied a two and a 61-58 lead. But with 11.7 seconds on the clock, SCCC sank two more from the line. 61-60. Then the Raiders' defense did the job. Schenectady fouls sent both Abrams and Jessica Woney to the line. Both of those Raiders sank both free throws, and FM earned the 65-60 win.
The victory raises FM's record to 14-3, and their 8-1 conference mark puts them atop the Mountain Valley Conference standings. (See full standings below.) SCCC is in second place at 6-2. FM has five conference games remaining, and Schenectady faces six more conference tilts.
The Lady Raiders will be back in action on Saturday when they host the SUNY Delhi Lady Broncos. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
FM: Jordan 5, Chea 6, Garrett 9, Flowers 2, Rice 7, Ev. Redwood 2, Woney 4, Abrams 20, Er. Redwood 4, Gayle 6; Total 65
SCCC: Creighton 14, M. Pucci 19, Tillipaugh 3, D. Pucci 2, Hall 5, Coons 13, Fink 2, Fortner 2; Total 60
Halftime: 24-20, FM
Mountain Valley Conference Standings
Fulton-Montgomery 8-1
Schenectady 6-2
Mohawk Valley 5-3
Hudson Valley 5-4
Herkimer 4-5
Adirondack 3-6
North Country 2-5
Delhi 0-7
