By Rob Centorani
Staff Writer
Selling fourth-seeded Jefferson as an underdog heading into the Section Four Class D girls basketball title game is akin to offering bananas to a monkey.
It’s a wide-open layup.
The J-Hawks have never won a sectional title, they didn’t appear to be on the level of South Kortright, Davenport or Schenevus heading into sectionals, and before this year’s tournament, they hadn’t won a sectional game since 2006.
“We’re definitely an underdog,” said J-Hawks coach John Toroni, whose 18-3 team will play second-seeded Davenport (18-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Section Four Class D final at the Broome County Arena. “We haven’t beaten Davenport in a long time. I can’t remember the last time.”
But just when it appeared the battlelines for Saturday’s game were clearly drawn, Wildcats senior Sam Meyerhoff _ like so many of her post moves _ tried to muscle Davenport into the underdog role.
“No one thought we were going to be able to do anything after losing three starters last year,” said Meyerhoff, who scored a game-high 22 points in the Wildcats’ 49-33 cruise past Schenevus on Wednesday at Oneonta State. “Just to prove everyone wrong and show what we can do, it’s great.”
Indeed, the Wildcats lost Chelsea Haight, Amanda Toombs and Lauren Rider to graduation from last season’s 21-1 team.
But who’s the true underdog here?
Allow Wildcats coach Ray Preston and his nearly 600 victories to break the tie.
“They appear to be the Cinderella team,” Preston said of Jefferson, which lost, 50-43, at Davenport on Jan. 8. “No one expected them to beat Candor (a 66-40 win Saturday) because Candor is really good. They did their jobs.
“Tonight, they did what they had to do to win the game,” Preston said of Jefferson’s 27-25 win over top-seeded and previously unbeaten South Kortright in Wednesday’s other semifinal at Oneonta State.
One aspect both sides can agree on is the support they’ll have Saturday.
“The weather has been dark and dreary and people have been low key, but this has certainly pumped up the school,” Toroni said. “The other day, we had an excellent turnout (at O-State). It’s a good bunch of fans and kids. It’s definitely been a boost to the community.”
With the Wildcats’ girls and boys playing for sectional titles Saturday, Meyerhoff was asked if anyone would be left in Davenport.
“I don’t think so,” said Meyerhoff, who has scored 2,062 points over six varsity seasons to go with more than 1,000 rebounds. “You can go and check. ... We have so much support and we’re going to be there with our boys Saturday.”
As for containing Meyerhoff, a First Team all-state selection in Class D each of the last two years, Toroni said: “I don’t know if you can. She can go left, she can right, she’s a bull under the boards, she can get to the basket and she can bury a three-pointer if you leave her alone.”
Meyerhoff matched her season-scoring average with 26 points against Jefferson in the teams’ regular-season meeting.
“I think they have one player and we have many,” Jefferson senior forward Chelsea Martin said after her team’s win over SK. “If we play well and shut down Meyerhoff, we can win.”
Senior guard Jackie Gilley, a key cog in Davenport’s pressure defenses, averages 7.7 points and junior Katie Brown averages 6.5 for the Wildcats, who won 2008 Class D title with a 47-25 victory over Cherry Valley-Springfield.
Jefferson last played for a sectional title in 1978, losing 53-28, to Downsville at Hartwick College.
History aside, the J-Hawks have size in Martin, Bess Slicer and Vanessa Speenburgh.
“For this area, it’s not common for someone to be that tall,” Meyerhoff said of 6-foot center Martin. “That makes it harder _ just their overall presence inside. They have a lot of size.”
Martin averages a team-best 14.9 points. Slicer scores 12.5 per game and Speenburgh averages 9.2. On Wednesday, Slicer scored 17 points against SK, including the decisive basket with 22 seconds left.
“We’re going to have to scratch and claw and nail-bite,” Toroni said. “It’s going to be a tough one. We tend to get cold and bogged down and it was like that Wednesday. I told the kids it was gut-check time and they really responded.”
Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 209.
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