Athletics

Game Summaries

Varsity Basketball, Winter 2007–08

Chatham scrimmage

Emma traveled to Chatham for our second consecutive scrimmage and played extremely well. The Jesters jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter playing strong defensively and getting good ball movement, resulting in open shots on the offensive end. The next quarters saw Emma continue its intense defense and, after a few attempts at breaking Emma’s changing defenses, the lead was extended once again. The coaches stressed playing well together both defensively and offensively throughout practice this week, and this was accomplished as Emma dominated the second half. Our Big 3 of Libby, Sarah H, and Alexis combined for 36 points while Libby filled out the stat sheet with 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 5 steals. Sarah H added 7 rebounds while Alexis connected for 2 three-pointers. Caroline and Sarah M played great defensively all game, while Jess saw limited action due to a leg injury. Robin, Crystal, Rudi, and Julia dominated the boards hauling down a combined total of 15 rebounds. Crystal added 3 assists. Newcomers Jen and Ngozi came in and played some strong minutes with Jen getting 3 rebounds and 3 steals and Ngozi pulling down 2 rebounds and adding a bucket. Overall, Emma played an incredible scrimmage and highlighted their defensive and teamwork skills. We look forward to the start of the season against Stillwater on November 17.

EW 31–Stillwater 46

Emma played its first game of the season at home in front of a good crowd against a formidable non-league opponent in Stillwater. We battled this squad for the entire 32 minutes! In the first quarter, both teams pressed each other relentlessly, resulting in many fast-break opportunities. Emma found itself down in the first quarter by 5 points but continued to keep up the intensity and hustle. Unfortunately, too many missed free throws kept us from catching up with our opponent. The second half saw our defense begin to shut down Stillwater’s tough offense, and Emma was able to close the gap, exhibiting continued intensity and teamwork. But Stillwater was able to make key baskets down the stretch to put the game just out of reach. Sarah H started the first half of the game strong scoring all 9 of her points in the first half along with her 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Libby played a good all-around game, connecting for 8 points, 4 boards, and 4 assists. Robin and Julia played a strong game under basket, leading the team in rebounds with 8 and 6, respectively. Jessica and Sarah M shut down Stillwater’s explosive point guard defensively, while Caroline played a strong defense against their number one scorer, while also contributing 5 points. Jenny played very well in her first Varsity game, chipping in with 4 points and 2 steals. Overall, the coaches were very proud of the way the team came out and competed against a very good team. Tomorrow night Emma opens league play against Berlin.

EWS 45 – Berlin 49

In the second of back-to-back games, Emma lost a tough game against our old nemesis Berlin. In the first half Emma built leads as large as 10 points only to see the leads whittled back down by a persistent Berlin squad. Emma struggled getting back on defense, giving our opponent some easy opportunities to score. Emma led by two points at half time and held on to that lead going into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter saw Berlin outscoring us 18 to 11 to give them a come-from-behind victory. After two very tough games, Emma just did not have enough energy to overcome their fatigue in the fourth quarter. Tri-captains Sarah H and Libby had superb games scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively. In, addition, Libby had 6 assists, while Sarah H collected a game-high 12 rebounds. Crystal worked hard under the basket pulling down 4 rebounds and getting 3 steals. Caroline played a strong defensive game hauling down 3 rebounds and getting 2 steals, while Julia and Alexis hustled hard all night on both ends of the court. Emma travels to Loudonville Christian in search of our first victory of the season this Friday.

EWS 46 – Loudonville Christian 18

Emma came into this game looking for our first win of the season. From the opening tip, the Emma express was running on all cylinders. Emma went back to the basics and used a stifling half-court defense to completely shut our offense in the first quarter. The second quarter saw Emma apply its pressure defense with intensity and precision resulting in many scoring opportunities and causing Loudonville to wilt under our pressure. By the end of the half, Emma led by 12 points and extended its lead to 16 points with continued defensive pressure by controlling the boards. The Emma guards played their best game of the season on both offense and defense as they roamed both ends of the court making big plays and demonstrating great teamwork by moving the ball around to the open players. Libby and Caroline led all scorers with 11 points each. Libby had another marvelous all-round game, adding 8 steals and 6 assists. Sarah H again led all players with 3 blocks. Sarah M, Alexis, Crystal and Jenny all added 4 points each with Alexis throwing a spectacular pass to Julia for a great basket Ngozi and Rudi came off the bench and played very well in getting key defensive rebounds and battling Loudonville's very tall front court. Rudi pulled down a team high 13 rebounds, while Ngozi and Jenny had 5 rebounds each. Jess and Sarah M played a great defensive getting key steals and dishing out key assists. Emma finished the game strong for our first win of the season!

EWS 41 – Heatly 25

Emma entered the game against Heatly looking to even their record to 500. for the season. Playing without tri-captain Sarah H, the jesters started out the first half slowly. We looked sluggish and lacked focus, committing numerous turnovers. Thankfully, our man-to-man defense kept us in the game in the first two quarters, and we escaped leading 11 to 7 at the end of the first half. After half time, Emma exploded, outscoring Heatly 21-5 in the third quarter. Our press stifled Heatly's offense causing them to turn over the ball, giving us numerous scoring opportunities. The team strung together a number of spectacular passes and displayed great teamwork. Robin, Julia, and Rudi controlled the boards hauling down 8, 8, and 7, respectively. Robin played an all-around fine game adding 3 steals and 2 blocks. Alexis came off the bench to lead all scorers with 9 points while Caroline and Jess played outstanding defense, shutting down their top scorer while contributing 7 and 4 points respectively. Libby again lead the team in assists with 3 while getting 3 steals. Crystal and Sarah M anchored our defensive effort all game while Ngozi continues to improve each game adding 3 points a rebound and a steal for the game. Emma looks to improve as a team when they host New Lebanon this Friday.

EWS 44 – New Lebanon 23

In front of a home crowd the team came out with a lot of energy and intensity against New Lebanon. Defensive pressure from the start shut down our opponent’s offense and provided Emma with quick transition baskets leading us to a 22 to 9 halftime lead. In the second half, Emma was able to keep the defensive pressure on while only having a few mental lapses to put the game out of reach and win our third straight game. Playing again without our tri-captain Sarah H required us to step up and play well. Tri-captains Libby and Alexis beautifully distributed the ball to their teammates, each coming through with 4 assists. Libby, meanwhile, also led all scorers with 10 points. Robin again terrorized the low post players with excellent defense while leading the team with 8 rebounds. Jenny had her best game this year with 5 steals, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Crystal, Rudi, and Ngozi played a strong defensive game, shutting down New Lebanon's low post players. Julia played a fine all-around game with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and a steal. Sarah M and Caroline combined for 14 points and 4 steals while leading our defensive pressure attack against New Lebanon, and Jess played solid defense while also running our offense from her point guard position.

Northville Scrimmage, Dec. 28

Emma girls kept up their game, even over vacation, traveling to Northville for a Friday morning scrimmage. Although we only managed to bring five girls along with us, they played strong and hard through all 5 quarters. This scrimmage gave us an opportunity to work on our different offenses, defenses, and presses and keep ourselves focused despite the long time off. Libby, Caroline, Julia, Crystal, and Alexis worked together as a team, encouraging and communicating well with one another. Each quarter was different, bringing new challenges and strategies to each team. Overall, this created a wonderful opportunity for the girls to have fun and play some ball over break. 

EWS 37–Waterford 34

After a month off for the holiday season, Emma resumed league play against the league leading team from Waterford. It was a see-saw battle in the first half as Emma jumped out a 13–10 first quarter lead. Emma showed gritty teamwork as we fought to regain our timing due to the long layoff. Waterford increased their intensity in the second quarter, connecting on some long-range shots and shutting down Emma's offense, while taking a 20–18 half-time lead.

In the third quarter, things began to look bleak for the Jesters as Waterford extended their lead by 11 points. Midway through the third quarter Emma began to apply more defensive pressure and valiantly fought back to close the quarter to within 2 points.

In an incredible fourth quarter, Emma's leading scorer, tri-captain Libby, left the game after a hard fall. Emma continued its relentless defensive pressure, and Libby returned to the game assisting on a bucket to tie the score and finally sinking the winning fouls shots to win the game. It was an amazing team effort and may just have been the turning point of our season.

Libby had an all-around fine game that included 4 steals and 6 assists. Caroline and Sarah hounded Waterford’s high scoring point guard all night with relentless defense while combining for 3 assists and 3 steals. Tri-captain Alexis was our offensive spark in the first half, hitting on some big shots to keep us in the game. Robin again led the team with 5 rebounds, along with Julia, Rudi, and Crystal, who combined for 11 rebounds. Emma got great contributions from Jess and Jen, who played some key minutes down the stretch. There will be little rest for the weary as Emma travels tomorrow night to take on Doane Stuart in another league game.

EW 51– Doane Stuart 18

Emma traveled for the second straight night to take on Doane Stuart. After an intense game the night before, Emma started out slowly, committing several turnovers and missing open shots. The Jesters ended the first half of the game leading Doane Stuart 18–12. At halftime the coaches stressed better execution of offensive plays and greater intensity on defense.

Emma came out in the third quarter determined to play better. The result was an impressive display of defensive pressure, which led to many fast break opportunities and produced 19 third-quarter points. Emma’s defense allowed only 6 points during the entire second half. It turned out to be Emma’s largest margin of victory to date.

Caroline lead the team with her best statistical game of the season scoring a game high 14 points to go along with 4 steals, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds. Alexis had a great all-around game scoring 10 points and adding 2 assists and 2 steals. Robin had a game-high 6 steals while Jenny turned in her best performance of the season with 10 points, 4 steals, 4 rebounds, and an assist. Rudi led Emma with game high 8 rebounds, while Ngozi continued to improve with a solid game, scoring 5 points with 2 steals and 4 boards. Crystal and Julia worked hard under the glass, combining for 6 rebounds. Sarah M and Jess played another fine defensive game, shutting down our opponent’s guards. Libby triggered the decisive third quarter with several brilliant passes, which led to easy baskets for her teammates. On Friday Emma plays a big league game at home against Green division leader Germantown.

EWS 47—Germantown 31

In front of a good home crowd, Emma took on another division leader in Germantown. We came out focused, playing with great intensity on defense and offense. Emma led 27–13 at the half. In the second half Emma continued to play great team ball by making sharp passes and helping each other out in our man-to-man defense. We continued to pull away from Germantown in the second half garnering a big win against another division leader. The win raised our league record to 6 and 1, putting us tied with Albany Academy for first place in our division.

Captains Libby and Alexis again led the team with 15 and 12 points, respectively. Libby had a team high 6 steals with 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 5 rebounds. Alexis added 4 steals, 3 assists, and a rebound. Robin and Julia controlled the boards, combining for 8 rebounds, while Robin added 3 steals and 2 assists. Crystal and Rudi drew the toughest defensive assignment, which was to guard Germantown’s best player. They played brilliantly, shutting her down and keeping her off the offensive glass. Crystal had 4 steals, 3 rebounds, and a bucket, while Rudi had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Caroline turned in another fine game with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Jess, Sarah M, and Jen played a solid game, while Ngozi played some strong minutes showing great hustle. Next, Emma travels to Hoosick Falls for a tough non-league contest.

EWS 34–Hoosick Falls 48

Emma traveled to Hoosick Falls to take on the Panthers in a tough non-league match up. It was not one of Emma’s better nights. Sloppy play led to many Emma turnovers. The Jesters were not able to match the intensity Hoosick Falls displayed. The Jesters were down 29–14 at the end of the first half. The second half did not produce much better results as Hoosick Falls pulled away for the win.

Libby led Emma with 12 points and 5 steals. Robin and Rudi again led Emma on the glass with 10 and 8 rebounds, respectively. Caroline and Jenny combined for 6 assists and 3 steals. Crystal and Julia worked hard on both ends of the floor. Sarah M and Jess hustled on defense, while Caroline and Ngozi combined for 4 assists and 4 rebounds.

EWS 44–AAG 41

Emma met Albany Academy in a showdown for sole possession of first place in the blue division. Both teams took the floor ready for a close, intense game. Emma played a hard-nosed man-to-man defense, while the Bears came out in a box-and-one zone with an attempt to shut down Alexis, our 3-point shooter. It was a hotly contested first half that ended in a 21–21 half-time score. At half time, Emma made some match-up changes on defense; most notably Jenny P matched up with Academy’s quick-scoring forward.  Her strong defense helped Emma surge ahead by 10 points in the third quarter. However, the Bears clawed back utilizing a box-and-one defense to stop Libby and tied the score with just 2 minutes left in the game. Caroline then hit the winning basket with 10 seconds left to seal a great win for the Jesters.

Libby had another all-around awesome game with 16 points, 6 steals, 4 assists, and 7 rebounds. Robin and Rudi controlled the boards with 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively.   Sarah M and Alexis played a strong defensive game and combined for 3 assists and 2 steals. Crystal, Julia, and Jess all played important minutes making the game a tremendous team effort. Emma next hosts Loudonville Christian in another division match up.

EWS 36–Loudonville Christian 10

Emma played host to Loudonville Christian in a league contest. The Jesters had already prevailed over the Eagles in an earlier match-up this season. Emma started the game slowly, and by the end of the first quarter, led Loudonville Christian 8–6. However, the Emma defense once again proved why they are the No.1 defense in the league by shutting out the Eagles in two of the last three quarters. Emma’s 13–0 run in the second quarter showed some great teamwork, intense defensive pressure, and quick scoring opportunities. By the end of the first half, Emma had a 21–6 lead. Emma’s guards smothered their point guards in the second half, allowing the team to cruise away with another victory.

Caroline led all scorers with 8 points and added 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal. Captain Libby, playing limited minutes due to a sore knee, still garnered 5 steals, 3 rebounds, and a block. Captain Alexis and Jess played great defense while contributing with 3 and 2 rebounds, respectively. Robin and Rudi are having quite a year on the boards as they battled for 10 and 8 rebounds, respectively. Crystal was a huge part of Emma’s big second-quarter run, getting key steals and rebounds during that stretch. Sarah and Jen played excellent defense by constantly pressuring the Eagle guards. Ngozi and Julia worked hard on both ends of the floor getting good position on Loudonville Christian’s tall post players. Emma next hosts Hoosick Falls in a re-match of a game that Emma lost a week ago.

EWS 43–Hoosick Falls 57

Emma took on Hoosick Falls for the second time this season in a non-league match-up. Emma played with a lot of heart against this tough opponent, staying close in the first quarter and getting big plays from Libby, Caroline, and Alexis. The end of the first quarter found the Jesters down by only 1. The action was fast paced and both teams pressured each other at every opportunity. In the second quarter, Hoosick Falls surged ahead, outscoring Emma 16–10. The Jesters played with a great deal of intensity but made some mental errors concerning defensive coverage that allowed Hoosick Falls some easy baskets.

At half time the coaches got the team re-focused on what Emma needed to do, and the Jesters came out on fire, getting some steals and cutting the Hoosick lead down to three. However, the combination of Hoosick’s quick guard and hot perimeter shooting allowed them to eventually pull away from Emma and win the game. It was a great game for Emma even in the loss to play so well for much of the game against a very good and balanced team in Hoosick.
Captains Libby and Alexis had fine games leading the charge with 14 and 9 points, respectively. Libby also had a game high 5 steals, while both Libby and Alexis dished out 3 assists each. Caroline had 6 points and 3 assists, while Jenny added 4 points and 3 rebounds. Jess and Sarah M played excellent defense at the top of defensive press. It was quite a battle down low as our post players worked hard to control the glass. Rudi finished with a team high 6 rebounds, while Crystal and Ngozi combined for three boards. Julia had one of her best defensive games this season pulling down 4 rebounds to go along with 3 steals. Emma next hosts Hawthorne Valley in a league contest.

EWS 56–Hawthorne Valley 4

Emma hosted Hawthorne Valley in a league contest under the reigns of assistant coach Ryan. Coach Ryan prepared an excellent game plan, and Emma worked it to near perfection. The game also featured the return of tri-captain Sarah H. The team was very happy to have Sarah back, and she promptly responded with a fine game, scoring 11 points to go along with 6 rebounds. Tri-captains Libby and Alexis also had an excellent game, combining for 7 assists and 9 steals. Jenny continues to have an impressive varsity season, scoring a game high 12 points and also contributing 3 steals, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds. Rudi and Robin continue to dominate the paint with 10 and 5 rebounds, respectively. Crystal, Sarah M, Jess, and Caroline played another marvelous defensive game completely shutting down their opponent while combining for 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. Crystal hit the first 3-point shot of her varsity career at the end of the first half. Ngozi and Julia played very well, combining for 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Emma gets ready for a big week as they next play two league games against New Lebanon and Albany Academy.

EWS 45–New Lebanon 17

Emma traveled to take on the New Lebanon in another key league contest match-up. The Jesters could not afford to look past this opponent since New Lebanon had beaten a tough Waterford squad a few nights earlier. Emma immediately came out on the floor with a great amount of intensity and energy. Emma's defense, as usual, was suffocating as it held New Lebanon to 6 first-half points. This time Emma was led by Crystal, who had her best half of basketball this season. Crystal finished the game with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. At the end of the first half Emma led 24–6.

The second half opened with the Jesters making poor passes and mental errors. However, the team again raised its focus and intensity level and began to pull away from New Lebanon. Sarah H exploded in the second half, scoring 10 points to finish the game with a team high 12 points to go along with 6 boards and 1 steal. Libby had another fine all-around game getting 6 steals, dishing out 3 assists, and grabbing 5 rebounds. Robin was all over the court getting 4 steals, 6 rebounds, and handing out 1 assist. Caroline, Jenny, and Alexis combined for 8 assists while playing excellent defense all game long. Rudi and Julia worked hard under the basket combining for 7 rebounds. Jess and Ngozi worked hard on both ends of the floor combining for 3 steals and 2 assists. Emma next hosts Albany Academy in Blue Division showdown between the two teams with the best league records.  

EWS 36–Doane Stuart 16

Emma hosted Doane Stuart in a division contest. It was the beginning of back-to-back-to-back games for the Jesters this week due to Friday’s game cancellation with Albany Academy. In an attempt to limit the minutes for each player, the coaches substituted often throughout the game. Emma played a tough man-to-man defense allowing just 3 baskets in the first half and led Doane Stuart 19–8 in the first half. Emma had difficulty find any offensive rhythm all night. However, tri-captain Libby made some key steals on the press, scoring a game high 12 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Tri-captain Alexis continued to play well, dishing out a team high 4 assists while adding 2 rebounds, 4 points, and a block. Crystal, who has been playing with tremendous intensity in the last few games, had 3 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 points. Robin, Julia, and Rudi dominated the boards grabbing 8, 9, and 6 rebounds, respectively. Caroline and Jess played another outstanding defensive game shutting down the Doane Stuart guards. Sarah M dished out 2 assists and had a steal, while Ngozi came off the bench to grab 3 rebounds and a steal. Jenny played a fine overall game getting 2 steals and 3 rebounds. Emma next hosts a red hot Greenwich team tomorrow night in a non-league match-up.

EWS 55–Greenwich 50 (OT)

Emma hosted a red-hot Greenwich in a non-league contest. Greenwich had beaten most of the top teams in their league over the past two weeks including Tamarack, Hoosick Falls, and Stillwater. It was the second game of back-to-back-to-back games for the Jesters this week due to Friday’s cancellation with Albany Academy. The coaches wanted the team to control the tempo of the game, substitute often, and execute the plays on offense better. Emma played a tough man-to-man defense in the first half. At the end of the first half Emma and Greenwich were tied at 22 points each. The second half of game saw several lead changes and neither team led by more than 3 points for the entire second half. Emma showed a lot of heart, and when Caroline’s last second shot rimmed out of the basket, the Jesters found themselves in overtime with a tough Greenwich squad. In the overtime, Greenwich struck first with a quick basket, but Emma then went on an 11 to 4 run to win the game.

Tri-captain Libby had another amazing night with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals, and 6 assists. Tri-captain Alexis hit 2 big 3-pointers while getting 2 rebounds and a steal. Crystal continued her high level of play getting 3 rebounds and 5 steals highlighted by a quick steal which she dribbled the full length of the court for a great lay-up—a spectacular play. Tri-captain Sarah H had a monster game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Robin, Julia, and Rudi dominated the boards combining for 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Caroline and Sarah M played yet another outstanding defensive game, shutting down the Greenwich guards while combining to score 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal. Jess and Ngozi came off to the bench to play some key minutes during the game. Overall, it was an amazing team effort by the Jesters. Emma next hosts Albany Academy, and if the Jesters win, we will finish the season in sole possession of first place and secure the top seed in the league championship game.

EWS 57–Albany Academy 38

In the final game of the regular season, Emma hosted Albany Academy in a rematch of the top two teams in the Blue Division. A win for the Jesters would clinch a spot as the #1 seed going into the league championship playoffs. Emma started strong, but a resilient AAG kept pace for the entire first half. Both teams played with a lot of intensity and energy. At the end of the first half the Jesters were up by 2 points. Emma made some halftime adjustments and came out in the second on fire. The Jesters picked up their level of intensity getting several key steals and converting on fast break lay ups. The third quarter ended with Emma leading by 9 points. In the fourth quarter Emma, broke the game wide open by going on a 14-to-4 run, completing a spectacular three night in a row sweep of Doane Stuart, Greenwich, and AAG. Emma finished their regular season with a record of 13 wins against 4 losses.

It was the last regular season home game for Libby, Jess and Alexis, who have had stellar careers with Emma basketball. They will surely be missed. Libby had an incredible game with 14 points, 6 steals, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Sarah H played with great heart getting 12 points and 10 rebounds. Caroline had a team high 14 points to go along with 5 assists. Alexis added 3 assists and bucket, while teammate Jess played with incredible intensity on defense while also scoring 4 points. Robin and Crystal had fine games combining for 10 rebounds, 5 points, and 7 steals. Rudi contributed 2 rebounds and scored a basket, while Jen and Ngozi came off the bench and played very well. Julia, who has been working hard on her post moves all week made a beautiful post move in the second half and scored a basket. It was a brilliant team effort, and Emma will now prepare for the championship game coming at the end of the week.

EWS 63–AAG 30

On Saturday night at Heatly’s new gym, Emma hosted Albany Academy in the CHVL Championship game. It was Emma’s fourth consecutive appearance in this title game. Emma’s intense and focused preparation for was evident from the start. At the pre-game meeting, the coaches stressed the importance of getting off to a quick start by having a great pre-game warm up. Emma came out on fire as Sarah H won the tip, and Libby assisted Caroline for a quick basket. Libby set a championship game record with 11 assists. In addition, Libby was voted the league’s most valuable player by the CHVL coaches. Caroline went into a “zone” as she hit an amazing 5 out of 6 shots scoring 11 out of Emma’s first 16 points of the game. Caroline finished with a game high 20 points. Caroline was also selected for the CHVL second team. Emma’s pressure defense suffocated AAG’s offense, creating many turnovers and getting many opportunities for the Jesters to score on the fast break. When Sarah H (who finished the game with 8 rebounds, 5 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals and assist) left the game with a sprained ankle, Rudi  stepped in and had a game high 11 rebounds. The first half ended with the Jesters leading by a score of 35 to 17.

At halftime, the coaches reminded the team of AAG’s game against Loudonville Christian where they overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win the game.  Emma came out in the second half and picked up right where they left off by outscoring AAG by a total of 9 points in the third quarter. Alexis made some beautiful passes on the fast break and also finished the game with 12 points. Although Crystal and Robin were in foul trouble for much of the game, they dominated the boards with a total of 10 rebounds, along with Jenny who had a career high 6 rebounds. Julia had her best statistical game of the season as she finished the game with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. Sarah M played an awesome defensive game, getting 3 blocks and a steal along with scoring 3 points. Jess and Ngozi played very well coming off the bench as they showed excellent defense skills in our zone match up. Annie and Allie, two JV players brought up for the rest of the season, played well coming off the bench. Allie scored her first varsity point on a foul shot in the fourth quarter. Jesters won the game 63 to 30. It was Emma’s fourth straight league CHVL championship. Emma has compiled an amazing record of 70 wins against 10 losses over the past four years. We will now wait until February 13 to find our where we will be seeded for sectional play.

EWS 57–Coxsackie-Athens 37

Emma entered the Class B Sectionals as the 8th seed and hosted 9th seed Coxsackie-Athens in the first round. There was a lot of anticipation and excitement before the game as Emma wanted to show they were as good as an 8th seed and even better. The jesters started the game slowly, committing early turnovers as they had to adjust to the speed of the game. Coxsackie also featured two tall athletic forwards who immediately gave Emma defensive match-up problems. Emma trailed 6–2 early in the game. The Jesters then began to clamp down defensively and went on an 8–0 run to end the first quarter ahead by 4 points. The second quarter featured Emma’s high intensity pressure defense, which caused numerous turnovers and allowed Emma many opportunities to score. The result was a 21–10 second quarter run, which gave Emma a 31–16 half time lead.

At half time the coaches anticipated that Coxsackie would come out with even greater intensity to avenge their second quarter performance. Coxsackie scored the first two baskets of the third quarter, but Emma again flexed its defensive muscle and was able to stave off any attempts for a comeback. Emma finished the game strong, outscoring Coxsackie 16–11 in the fourth quarter.

Tri-captain Libby led the charge with 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 5 points. Tri-captain Sarah H led all scorers with 16 points and added 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Tri-captain Alexis scored 10 points to go along with 2 steals. Caroline had a fine game, adding 10 points which included 2 3-pointers, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Robin led Emma with 8 rebounds while also scoring 4 points. Rudi V and Crystal did major damage on the inside by combining for 10 rebounds. Julia started the game but had to leave due to sickness. Jenny and Sarah M played many fine minutes in the game with Sarah M hitting a 3-point basket and Jenny adding 4 points and 2 assists. Jess finished Emma’s scoring with the last basket of the night.

Emma won the game by a score of 57 to 37. Emma will now head north to take on the #1 seeded Hoosic Valley Indians.

EWS 9–Hoosic Valley 73

Emma traveled to play Hoosic Valley in the sectional quarterfinals. It would end up being a long night for the Jesters, who struggled against the #3 ranked team in the state. The Jesters put in a valiant effort, but Hoosic Valley was just too strong. Their defensive pressure caused Emma to turn the ball over often, and Emma had no answer to their offensive attack. Hoosick Valley won the game but the Jesters showed great heart throughout.

It would be tri-captain Libby’s last game in an Emma uniform, ending a brilliant career. She finished her four-year career as Emma’s career leader in points, steals, and assists. Libby was a two-year first team selection in the CHVL league and was voted league MVP this year. She was a starter on all four league titles won during her career at Emma. It was also tri-captain Alexis’s last game for Emma. She played on three straight league championship teams and ended her career as one of Emma’s all-time 3 point shooters. Lastly, Jess played her last game for Emma and played on three straight league championship teams. Jessica was invaluable as a defensive player and helped the team shut down Emma’s opponents on many nights. We will miss these three seniors and wish them the very best as they move on to college. It was an amazing season, and the coaches couldn’t be any prouder of how this team competed and came together to make this another memorable basketball season.