Low-scoring, defensive battle ends with a Storm title
BINGHAMTON – Falling one game short of Midstate Athletic Conference championship a season ago, the Unadilla Valley Storm boys basketball team returned with vengeance to claim the title this year at the Binghamton University Events center Friday night. UV defeated the top-seeded Delhi Bulldogs with a 42-39 final.
Using an outstanding defensive effort in the first half, the Storm was able to build a eight to 10 point lead by the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Unadilla Valley was faced with fouled troubles and turnovers. Delhi took advantage and got themselves back into the game to pull within two points.
“We didn’t execute on offense and we didn’t make our foul shots down the stretch,” said Storm’s head coach Matt Osborne.
UV’s Levi Rifanburg came down with a much-needed rebound as 17 seconds remained in the contest to give the Storm the possession. With .4 seconds left on the clock, Rifanburg was sent to the free throw line for two shots. Making second of the two attempts, he gave Unadilla Valley their last point of the game to make the final margin of three.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs made four of the team’s six 3-pointers to count for 12 of their 15 points in their comeback attempt.
Cameron Osborne of the Storm helped keep the lead in his team’s hands with his 4-for-6 shooting performance at the foul line in the final eight minutes of play.
Unadilla Valley jumped out to an 11-7 lead and continued to build on that in the second as they outscored the Delhi by four points to go into halftime leading by eight.
Out of the intermission, the two teams matched point totals, each scoring 11 which allowed the Storm to enter the fourth with the same margin. UV’s slight lead after each quarter aided in them being able to hold on for the win.
“I am very proud of the effort and focus of this team,” said Osborne. “We had to go to Greene and win to get here and this was a tough battle. We hung tough, we stayed focused and made a couple plays at the end to seal the win. This team has just gotten mentally tough over the last couple of weeks.”
Rifanburg earned a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Storm in both categories. Teammate Andrew Jackson didn’t show big numbers in the scoring column as he was held to nine points – two 3-pointers and three free throws. However, Jackson contributed in other ways as he pulled down nine boards, dished out four assists and put forth a big defensive effort in the low-scoring contest.
UV’s Caleb Parker added seven points and Osborne finished six.
Alex Haight and Connor Aikens combined to score 31 of the team’s 39 in the game. Haight led the Bulldogs with 16 points and Aikens had 15.
The Storm (14-5) now prepare to defend their Section IV Class C title as the four-seed. Their tournament starts as they host Sidney, a familiar MAC foe from the regular season. Game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday night at UV.
Unadilla Valley 42, Delhi 39
Delhi 7 6 11 15 – 39
Unadilla Valley 11 10 11 10 – 42
Delhi: Tyler Bruce 1 0-0 2, Logan Aikens1 0-0 3, Alex Haight 5 3-6 16, Connor Aikens 5 3-4 15, Luke Branigan 0 3-6 3, Diego Aguirre 0 0-0 0, A.J. Aukstikalnis 0 0-0 0, Rich LaLosh 0 0-2 0. TOTALS: 12 9-18 39.
Unadilla Valley: Andrew Jackson 2 3-4-9, Dylan Nichols 0 3-6-3, Levi Rifanburg 4 6-10-14, Wyatt Grey 1 0-2-3, Cameron Osborne 1 4-6-6, Caleb Parker 3 0-0-7; Tim Postma 0. TOTALS: 11 16-28 42.
Fouled out: (D) Lalosh; (UV) Jackson. 3-point field goals: (D) Haight 3, C. Aikens 2, L. Aikens 1; (UV) Jackson 2, Parker 1, Grey 1.
Using an outstanding defensive effort in the first half, the Storm was able to build a eight to 10 point lead by the fourth quarter.
In the fourth, Unadilla Valley was faced with fouled troubles and turnovers. Delhi took advantage and got themselves back into the game to pull within two points.
“We didn’t execute on offense and we didn’t make our foul shots down the stretch,” said Storm’s head coach Matt Osborne.
UV’s Levi Rifanburg came down with a much-needed rebound as 17 seconds remained in the contest to give the Storm the possession. With .4 seconds left on the clock, Rifanburg was sent to the free throw line for two shots. Making second of the two attempts, he gave Unadilla Valley their last point of the game to make the final margin of three.
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs made four of the team’s six 3-pointers to count for 12 of their 15 points in their comeback attempt.
Cameron Osborne of the Storm helped keep the lead in his team’s hands with his 4-for-6 shooting performance at the foul line in the final eight minutes of play.
Unadilla Valley jumped out to an 11-7 lead and continued to build on that in the second as they outscored the Delhi by four points to go into halftime leading by eight.
Out of the intermission, the two teams matched point totals, each scoring 11 which allowed the Storm to enter the fourth with the same margin. UV’s slight lead after each quarter aided in them being able to hold on for the win.
“I am very proud of the effort and focus of this team,” said Osborne. “We had to go to Greene and win to get here and this was a tough battle. We hung tough, we stayed focused and made a couple plays at the end to seal the win. This team has just gotten mentally tough over the last couple of weeks.”
Rifanburg earned a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Storm in both categories. Teammate Andrew Jackson didn’t show big numbers in the scoring column as he was held to nine points – two 3-pointers and three free throws. However, Jackson contributed in other ways as he pulled down nine boards, dished out four assists and put forth a big defensive effort in the low-scoring contest.
UV’s Caleb Parker added seven points and Osborne finished six.
Alex Haight and Connor Aikens combined to score 31 of the team’s 39 in the game. Haight led the Bulldogs with 16 points and Aikens had 15.
The Storm (14-5) now prepare to defend their Section IV Class C title as the four-seed. Their tournament starts as they host Sidney, a familiar MAC foe from the regular season. Game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday night at UV.
Unadilla Valley 42, Delhi 39
Delhi 7 6 11 15 – 39
Unadilla Valley 11 10 11 10 – 42
Delhi: Tyler Bruce 1 0-0 2, Logan Aikens1 0-0 3, Alex Haight 5 3-6 16, Connor Aikens 5 3-4 15, Luke Branigan 0 3-6 3, Diego Aguirre 0 0-0 0, A.J. Aukstikalnis 0 0-0 0, Rich LaLosh 0 0-2 0. TOTALS: 12 9-18 39.
Unadilla Valley: Andrew Jackson 2 3-4-9, Dylan Nichols 0 3-6-3, Levi Rifanburg 4 6-10-14, Wyatt Grey 1 0-2-3, Cameron Osborne 1 4-6-6, Caleb Parker 3 0-0-7; Tim Postma 0. TOTALS: 11 16-28 42.
Fouled out: (D) Lalosh; (UV) Jackson. 3-point field goals: (D) Haight 3, C. Aikens 2, L. Aikens 1; (UV) Jackson 2, Parker 1, Grey 1.
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