(Troy)
Albany won a thriller against Shaker 45-40 to advance to the Class AA title game vs Shen on Saturday at HVCC. Azera Gates was the MVP on offense for the winners leading the way with 21 points.
Albany were dialed in right from the jump and sprinted out to a significant first quarter lead 16-5. They relied on their stout defense and imposed their will in the quarter.
Both teams struggled to score the ball coming out of the locker room after the half as they combined for barely 13 points in the third quarter.
Albany were dialed in right from the jump and sprinted out to a significant first quarter lead 16-5. They relied on their stout defense and imposed their will in the quarter.
Both teams struggled to score the ball coming out of the locker room after the half as they combined for barely 13 points in the third quarter.
Shaker who trailed by as many as thirteen points in the first half used a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to cut their deficit to one point after a Kaelah Carter bucket with just under four minutes left in the game. However, Albany scored the next five points to help them seal the wire to wire victory.
The Falcons were on top at all period ending horn by separations of 11, 9, 6, & 5.
The Falcons were on top at all period ending horn by separations of 11, 9, 6, & 5.
The Blue Bison put together a comeback attempt in the second half but they came up short.
Azera Gates helped the cause for Albany with 21 points. Shonyae Edmonds powered in 7 points. MeChalle Cancer added 6 points.
Albany produced 5 hoops from long range.
Albany produced 5 hoops from long range.
Kaelah Carter paced Shaker with 17 points. Emily Satterday contributed 11 points.
FULL GAME VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Game flow chart:
By Ed Bemiss
| SCORE BY QUARTER | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | FINAL |
| Albany | 16 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 45 |
| Shaker | 5 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 40 |
| Albany | Shaker | |||||
| FGM - | 17 | 17 | ||||
| FTM - | 6 | 5 | ||||
| FTA - | 14 | 11 | ||||
| FT% - | 42.9% | 45.5% | ||||
| 3PtM - | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Albany | ||||||
| Name | FGM | 3PM | FTM | FTA | PTS | |
| MeChalle Cancer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| Bunique Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Layla Ford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Imani Walcott | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Cassidy Foley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Shonyae Edmonds | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Christanna McCray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Azera Gates | 8 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 21 | |
| Nevaeh House | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Falcons hoop | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| Shaker | ||||||
| Name | FGM | 3PM | FTM | FTA | PTS | |
| Jaedyn Shomo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Cecilia Boisvert | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kristen Foglia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Lexi Carrington | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
| Lauren OHagan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sierra Carter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Jamie Martino | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Katherine Field | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Claire Gordon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Akeana Rootes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kaelah Carter | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | |
| Tori Wasula | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Madylin Victorin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Emily Satterday | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
