Local teams prepare to make their playoff run
Several local teams in both girls and boys hoops have proven themselves this season and have made the playoffs. See who our local teams will be facing off against.
When the Madison Blue Devils won the Section III Class D banner in 2017, they did so as the No. 1 overall seed in the bracket.
As this season’s playoffs begin, Madison will have a slightly different path to repeat as champs after posting a 17-3 record and going undefeated in Central Counties League play for another league title.
The Blue Devils, currently ranked No. 12 in the state by the New York State Sportswriters Association, will begin their title defense as the 3-seed and will host Faith Heritage at home for an opening round clash in Madison at 8 p.m. on Friday
Elsewhere in Class D, Tom Blackford’s Hamilton Emerald Knights closed the season with a 16- 4 overall record, placing second in the CSC-IV behind state-ranked Oriskany. Hamilton earned an opening round home game the No. 5 seed in Class for its efforts and will host Copenhagen at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Four Dispatch- area teams will compete in the Class B bracket, and once again, all of them will be chasing No. 1 seed and defending state champion Westhill.
The Vernon-Verona-Sher- rill Red Devils closed the season with a 15-4 overall record and the Tri-Valley Pioneer Division banner, good for the No. 2 seed. With the 2-seed, Andy Cosette’s side will take on No. 15 Clinton at home at 7 p.m.
The No. 3 seed Chittenango Bears will face a familiar foe in their second round contest at home on Friday. John Clancy’s 14-5 Bears will tip-off against No. 14 seed Institute of Technology Syracuse Central, a team they beat 6052 less than a week ago on Monday, Feb. 12. Start time is schedule for 7 p.m. in Chittenango,
As late as Friday, Jan. 26, Jeff Didio’s Oneida side was on the outside of the playoff bracket looking in, but Oneida finished the season on a 5-2 run with three straight wins over TVL opponents to wrap up with a 4-5 mark in league play, good for the No. 13 seed and an away game against Holland Patennt on Friday, Feb. 16.
The No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed matchup in the Class B bracket will pit the top two teams from the OHSL Liberty National. Cazenovia, owners of a 10-2 overall record and division title, will take the second-place finisher in the OHSL Liberty National, Jordan-Elbridge. The No. 8 Lakers won a season-opener regular season contest against J-E 58-42 in November.
In this file photo, Madison point guard Colton Stone brings the ball up the court against Hamilton during the Madison Christmas Tournament. Stone and the Blue Devils will host Faith Heritage at home for an opening round clash in Madison at 8 p.m. on Friday