Bobcats win fourth straight MAC title, avenging loss to Delhi earlier this season
Meagan Schulz Photo
BINGHAMTON – In front of an electric crowd of Bainbridge-Guilford fans, the Lady Bobcats took an early game lead over Delhi and held onto said lead for the entire game, winning their fourth straight MAC Conference title.
When the teams faced each other earlier this season, the Bulldogs handed the Bobcats their first loss of the season. Currently, it is Bainbridge-Guilford’s only loss thus far.
“It was early in the season and we hadn’t quite found our team chemistry as a bunch of us started the season late because we were coming from volleyball,” said B-G’s Abi Selfridge. “We are definitely a different team now.”
And it showed.
With 1:15 left in the first quarter, Delhi tied the game at 8-8. But the tie quickly became an eight point lead for the Bobcats as Erica Selfridge knocked down a jumper from just inside the foul line, Megan Palmatier knocked down a three-pointer and Jill Cannistra hit one from the top of the key.
Youngster Macie Leizear finished for a bucket near the rim for her first two point of the game to start the second quarter and the Bobcats’ 12-2 run.
The 10 point B-G run happened in 1:16. Delhi’s Logan Bruce ended the run with a made shot from behind the three-point line. Bruce had a big hand in the earlier season win over Bainbridge-Guilford, finishing that game with 25 points.
Bruce’s three kicked off a 7-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs as they started to comeback, cutting the Bobcats lead to down to 13 nearing the end of the quarter.
But back came the Bobcats. Palmatier ended the Delhi run with a strong finish at the rim. She then drew a charge at the defensive end of the floor, the second of the game for the Bobcats. Abi Selfridge tacked on one more basket right before the halftime buzzer sounded, sending Bainbridge-Guilford into the locker room leading 32-17.
After the break, Delhi came out with a different defense, playing a 1-3-1. Typically this defense is used to shut down the three-point shooters while clogging the inside up, limiting an opponents way to score.
This worked for the Bulldogs for the most part. Until late in the third when B-G’s Kori Thornton hit her second three of the game. Erica Selfridge followed suit with one of her own and across the way Conway was seen celebrating before the shot went down.
Bainbridge-Guilford controlled the tempo of the game from start to the beginning of the fourth.
Delhi again changed their defense, going to a switching man-to-man. This defense limited the Bobcats to just two – should have been three points after a discrepancy in between the score books – in the quarter.
Behind Olivia Wakin’s seven points in the stanza, the Bulldogs mounted a comeback, pulling within six after Bruce’s two made free-throws. With missed chances from all over the floor, Delhi couldn’t come any closer than the six points as Palmatier put the nail in the coffin when she made her final two shots at the foul-line.
“We got a little tired late in the game because of how physical the game was; it was pretty physical inside the whole game,” said Bobcats’ head coach Bob Conway. “They are bigger than us, everyone we play is. But I think that wore us down a little bit.
“My guards do a good job but with the pressure, they started to get a little nervous. They started to get a little up tight as they are still kids. But they handled it.”
This year’s title is the fourth straight for the Bobcats and the seventh since the MAC conference formed in the 2000-01 season.
“It’s great for the kids,” said Conway. “They have worked hard for it and that’s what I told them in the locker room. They survived the comeback and the physical play tonight. They will learn from [Friday] because this is a smart group of kids. But it’s a great feeling for the kids and the community.”
Erica Selfridge finished with 11 points as did Abi Selfridge while Palmatier ended the night with 10 points.
Both Palmatier and Abi Selfridge have been members of the Bobcats the last four years.
“It feels the same as it does every time I think, which is pretty good,” said Palmatier when asked on how it feels winning her fourth MAC title.
Palmatier said “Their physicality rose and we weren’t scoring for a good stretch. It was a little frustrating but we pulled it together to hold on for the win.”
“It feels amazing,” said Selfridge. “I feel like really worked harder for this [title]. It was the most challenging.”
Bainbridge-Guilford received the one seed for the Class C sectional tournament and will wait in the quarterfinals after receiving a first round bye. The Bobcats will face the winner of Unadilla Valley and Spencer Van-Etten. The quarterfinal game will be played in Bainbridge-Guilford at 6 p.m. Saturday night.
MAC Final at Binghamton University
Bainbridge-Guilford: Alli Miller 0; Jillian Cannistra 2 0-0-6; Matraca Harmon 0; Abi Selfridge 4 3-3-11; Erica Selfridge 4 1-2-11; Macie Leizear 2 0-0-4; Bailey Hart 0; Zamira Caldwell 0; Isabella Decker 0; Kori Thornton 2 0-2-6; Megan Palmatier 3 3-4-10. Totals: 17 7-11-48.
Delhi: Logan Bruce 4 3-4-12; Aileen Nealis 1 0-0-2; Hannah Baxter 0; Olivia Wakin 4 2-2-11; Kaitlynn Finch 1 0-0-2; Anna Post 5 3-5-13; Brenna Gioffe 0; Julia Burns 0; Meredith Mable 0; Caroline Grace 0; Sophia Wakin 0. Totals: 15 8-11-40.
D 8 9 11 12 – 40
B-G 16 16 14 2 – 48
Fouled out: Finch (D). Three-point goals: (D) Bruce 1, O. Wakin 1; (B-G) Cannistra 2, E. Selfridge 2, Thornton 2, Palmatier 1.
BINGHAMTON – In front of an electric crowd of Bainbridge-Guilford fans, the Lady Bobcats took an early game lead over Delhi and held onto said lead for the entire game, winning their fourth straight MAC Conference title.
When the teams faced each other earlier this season, the Bulldogs handed the Bobcats their first loss of the season. Currently, it is Bainbridge-Guilford’s only loss thus far.
“It was early in the season and we hadn’t quite found our team chemistry as a bunch of us started the season late because we were coming from volleyball,” said B-G’s Abi Selfridge. “We are definitely a different team now.”
And it showed.
With 1:15 left in the first quarter, Delhi tied the game at 8-8. But the tie quickly became an eight point lead for the Bobcats as Erica Selfridge knocked down a jumper from just inside the foul line, Megan Palmatier knocked down a three-pointer and Jill Cannistra hit one from the top of the key.
Youngster Macie Leizear finished for a bucket near the rim for her first two point of the game to start the second quarter and the Bobcats’ 12-2 run.
The 10 point B-G run happened in 1:16. Delhi’s Logan Bruce ended the run with a made shot from behind the three-point line. Bruce had a big hand in the earlier season win over Bainbridge-Guilford, finishing that game with 25 points.
Bruce’s three kicked off a 7-0 run for the Lady Bulldogs as they started to comeback, cutting the Bobcats lead to down to 13 nearing the end of the quarter.
But back came the Bobcats. Palmatier ended the Delhi run with a strong finish at the rim. She then drew a charge at the defensive end of the floor, the second of the game for the Bobcats. Abi Selfridge tacked on one more basket right before the halftime buzzer sounded, sending Bainbridge-Guilford into the locker room leading 32-17.
After the break, Delhi came out with a different defense, playing a 1-3-1. Typically this defense is used to shut down the three-point shooters while clogging the inside up, limiting an opponents way to score.
This worked for the Bulldogs for the most part. Until late in the third when B-G’s Kori Thornton hit her second three of the game. Erica Selfridge followed suit with one of her own and across the way Conway was seen celebrating before the shot went down.
Bainbridge-Guilford controlled the tempo of the game from start to the beginning of the fourth.
Delhi again changed their defense, going to a switching man-to-man. This defense limited the Bobcats to just two – should have been three points after a discrepancy in between the score books – in the quarter.
Behind Olivia Wakin’s seven points in the stanza, the Bulldogs mounted a comeback, pulling within six after Bruce’s two made free-throws. With missed chances from all over the floor, Delhi couldn’t come any closer than the six points as Palmatier put the nail in the coffin when she made her final two shots at the foul-line.
“We got a little tired late in the game because of how physical the game was; it was pretty physical inside the whole game,” said Bobcats’ head coach Bob Conway. “They are bigger than us, everyone we play is. But I think that wore us down a little bit.
“My guards do a good job but with the pressure, they started to get a little nervous. They started to get a little up tight as they are still kids. But they handled it.”
This year’s title is the fourth straight for the Bobcats and the seventh since the MAC conference formed in the 2000-01 season.
“It’s great for the kids,” said Conway. “They have worked hard for it and that’s what I told them in the locker room. They survived the comeback and the physical play tonight. They will learn from [Friday] because this is a smart group of kids. But it’s a great feeling for the kids and the community.”
Erica Selfridge finished with 11 points as did Abi Selfridge while Palmatier ended the night with 10 points.
Both Palmatier and Abi Selfridge have been members of the Bobcats the last four years.
“It feels the same as it does every time I think, which is pretty good,” said Palmatier when asked on how it feels winning her fourth MAC title.
Palmatier said “Their physicality rose and we weren’t scoring for a good stretch. It was a little frustrating but we pulled it together to hold on for the win.”
“It feels amazing,” said Selfridge. “I feel like really worked harder for this [title]. It was the most challenging.”
Bainbridge-Guilford received the one seed for the Class C sectional tournament and will wait in the quarterfinals after receiving a first round bye. The Bobcats will face the winner of Unadilla Valley and Spencer Van-Etten. The quarterfinal game will be played in Bainbridge-Guilford at 6 p.m. Saturday night.
MAC Final at Binghamton University
Bainbridge-Guilford: Alli Miller 0; Jillian Cannistra 2 0-0-6; Matraca Harmon 0; Abi Selfridge 4 3-3-11; Erica Selfridge 4 1-2-11; Macie Leizear 2 0-0-4; Bailey Hart 0; Zamira Caldwell 0; Isabella Decker 0; Kori Thornton 2 0-2-6; Megan Palmatier 3 3-4-10. Totals: 17 7-11-48.
Delhi: Logan Bruce 4 3-4-12; Aileen Nealis 1 0-0-2; Hannah Baxter 0; Olivia Wakin 4 2-2-11; Kaitlynn Finch 1 0-0-2; Anna Post 5 3-5-13; Brenna Gioffe 0; Julia Burns 0; Meredith Mable 0; Caroline Grace 0; Sophia Wakin 0. Totals: 15 8-11-40.
D 8 9 11 12 – 40
B-G 16 16 14 2 – 48
Fouled out: Finch (D). Three-point goals: (D) Bruce 1, O. Wakin 1; (B-G) Cannistra 2, E. Selfridge 2, Thornton 2, Palmatier 1.
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