Editor’s note: The following are summaries of this weekend’s sectional basketball championship games involving Oxford’s boys, Otselic Valley’s boys, and Greene’s girls:

Otselic Valley (19-3) vs. New York Mills (16-6), Saturday, 12:45 p.m. at Manley Field House
David Loomis has been around basketball a long time, and he said earlier this week that any one of eight teams were legitimate contenders to win Section III, Class D titles. Now that number is at four, and Loomis’ Vikings play for their second D-2 title in three years when they match up with New York Mills Saturday.
New York Mills advance to the finals with a close upset win over top-seeded – and state-ranked – DeRuyter. “They got the ball inside and were able to utilize their size advantage,” Loomis said of the Marauders’ win. “DeRuyter was right with them, and a couple breaks here and there could have swung the game. They are a strong Class D school, and we’ll have to be at our best.”
The Vikings (19-3) reached the title game with an overtime win over Oppenheim-Ephratah, and a blowout first-round victory against Stockbridge Valley. A victory would set up a crossover game against the Class D division one winner. Two years ago, the Vikes were not so successful in the crossover losing in a blowout to New York Mills.
“The kids are aware of that game, but I don’t think that will be much of a factor this time around,” Loomis said. “They were much bigger and faster that us the last time we played them, but I don’t think (this year’s team) is as athletic as that team. In every aspect they were much better prepared than we were. I’m hoping it’s not that way this time, and I hope we have made up some ground.”
David Cerasani (20.5), Brad Wentworth (14.5), and Justin Shapley (13.5) all are averaging in double figures in the playoffs, and Shapley is coming off a 19-rebound game against O-E to key that second-round victory.
“This year is a not much different from last year,” Loomis said, whose club went 20-2 overall, but lost in the second round of the playoffs. “We’ve had a good run the last three years, and we have a lot of support from the community. We’ve had that support for actually quite a while, and there are a lot of people behind us.”

Odessa-Montour (16-7) vs. Oxford (20-3), Saturday, 6:45 p.m. at B.C. Arena
The Indians stumbled a bit into the sectional playoffs losing three of their last six games. Leading scorer Brandon Letteer racheted his 17.7 per game scoring average in the regular season to 21 a game in victories over Moravia, Elmira Notre Dame, and Unatego. John Blaha and Matt Shutter have also raised their playoff scoring average over the regular season. Blaha put up 11.1 a game before the postseason, and 14.3 over the last three; Shutter’s hike is more pronounced averaging 16/game over his 10.8 seasonal average.
The three-pronged scoring leaders are not unlike Oxford and its top three scorers, Alex Champlin, Tom Gould, and Cory Seiler. The Oxford trio is putting up well over 50 points a game in three playoff victories, and all three return from last year’s Class C finalist.
Oxford is allowing just over 41 points a game through 23 games, and O-M surrenders 46.6 a tilt. The Indians gave up less than 50 points in 16 games this season; however, they score just over 50 points a game, more than 10 points lower than Oxford.
An Oxford win would result in the school’s first Section IV boys’ basketball championship in 39 years.

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Girls’ Basketball

Odessa-Montour (19-4) vs. Greene (21-1), Saturday, 5 p.m. at B.C. Arena.
The Indians begin back-to-back finals with a girls team that regularly puts up 60 points a game, and has done so with ease in three straight wins. All five O-M starters – Rebecca Ayers, Whitney Ayers, Cassie Fitch, Michelle Melanson, and Brittany Evans – have scored in double figures at least once in the postseason, and Rebecca Ayers’ 14.7/game scoring average leads three Indians in double figures scoring. In fact, Evans’ 8.1/game average is the lowest among the starters. Evans, though proved she is a capable scorer with a 20-point night in a semifinals victory over Tioga. “They’re athletic with some speed, and they like to shoot the three,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton, noting O-M made 11 treys against Tioga. “We’ll have to cover the perimeter well and make them beat us some place else.”
The Indians will probably put up their share of points, the biggest question is how they will slow down Greene. The Trojans scored 76 and 74 points respectively in its playoff victories. In putting up 56.7 points a game, O-M is facing the first team that actually scores more points a game than it does. “When I saw them play, I noticed their guards are shooters and they don’t move the ball around much,” said Greene junior Liz Wentlent. “If we can pressure their ballhandlers, we can create turnovers. I also think we can really dominate in the post. They have some height, but not the size to get physical.”
Greene’s Barb Borst and Megan McDermott each have a pair of 20-point playoff games, and Wentlent is handling the point with aplomb dishing out six assists to go with 12 points and eight boards per game. “I think it will come down to who can get the ball inside and who can handle the tension (of a big game) quicker,” Gorton said. “I certainly would like us to get the early lead. Outside shooting can be pretty difficult at the Arena.”