GOOD DAY TO BE A BLUE STREAK
Saratoga celebrates Senior Day with big 87-36 win over Ballston Spa
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY » The Blue Streaks girl’s basketball team made the most of their Senior Day on Saturday afternoon. With a select group of parents in the stands, Saratoga defeated Ballston Spa by a score of 87-36, picking up their second win of the season.
“It really means a lot to me because ever since I was a freshman I’ve just dreamed of my senior night,” said Saratoga senior Abby Ray. “It’s a little bit unorthodox, but it’s definitely still the same feeling, the same nerves and it means a lot to be able to play in front of my family especially. Having my family here was a really big thing for me.”
It was fellow senior Katie Claeson with the standout game on Senior Day. She put up 21 points, all from the field, including three three-pointers. Each of Saratoga’s seniors played a role in the scoring effort. Ray scored 12 points, Ella Spain scored 13 and Kelsey McFadden scored 4.
“That was probably the most exciting thing, when they said we could start our season, to know that these girls can end
their careers with a nice game and can reflect back on their time here,” Saratoga Head Coach Robin Chudy said on being able to have a Senior Day.
It wasn’t just the seniors putting up big points numbers for the Streaks. When you put an 87 on the board, points have to come from a multitude of places. Natasha Chudy, a sophomore, scored 17 points and Carly Wise, a freshman, scored 12. Laruen Patnode and Baylee Fensterer each added four points to the effort.
“They’ve been coming out and are playing very well together, especially trying to get some of the rust off from having such a quick beginning to the season,” Chudy said. “Our focus in the past two games has been trying to box out, to seal off their players, get them off the boards and try to go get the ball. Most of the stuff we’ve been doing has not been full contact, so hopefully the girls continue to work hard to find positioning to get their rebounds.”
“We’re just getting back into playing the physical side of the game again,” Ray added. “So we’re trying to body up for the first time in so long and we’re still getting used to boxing out and being physical.”
Ballston Spa was led by Callie LaGoy, who scored 12 points on six field goals. Halle Wright scored six points and Olivia Verdile put in five.
A surprise for the Blue Streaks was that the parents of seniors would be allowed into the game on Saturday afternoon to watch the Senior Day ceremony and game.
“At first they said ‘no-parents,’ which was a let-down, but we got them and it was really fun,” Claeson said. “I’ve been looking forward to this. I’m glad that we did it early just in case, because you never know what’s going to happen and we definitely did what we could to make it as fun and as memorable as possible.”
FINAL: SARATOA 87, BALLSTON SPA 36
Saratoga Springs High School
Saratoga Springs, NY
SARATOGA 27-14-23-23 - 87
BALLSTON SPA 7-5-13-11 - 36
Saratoga (2-0)
Points: Ella Spain 13, Abby Ray 12, Kelsey McFadden 4, Katie Claeson 21, Nora Carminucci 0, Natasha Chudy 17, Morgan Brooking 0, Carly Wise 12, Baylee Fensterer 4, Lauren Patnode 4, Lauren LaFountain 0
Ballston Spa (0-2)
Points: Brianna Guarino 3, Lauren Jesmain 0, Callie LaGoy 12, Shea McNamara 3, Allison Piscitelli 1, Emily Robbie 4, Madysen Thomas 2, Olivia Verdile 5, Halle Wright 6