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Westhampton vs Penn Yan Acadamey 3/21/98
CLASS B State Final 4

Westhampton 70 Penn Yan Acadamey 34

Glens Falls - Solving Westhampton's trapping defense is difficult enough for teams in Suffolk's League IV. It was next to impossible for Penn Yan Academy.
Behind the trapping defense and strong guard play by sophomore Bronson Martin and seniors Dale Menendez and Jason Ritchie, Westhampton blew away Penn Yan Academy, 70-34, before a crowd of 2,500 yesterday in the state public schools Class B semifinal at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
"The teams in our league know about us and about our trap, but those kids were seeing it for the first time," Menendez said. "They didn't know what to do."
What Penn Yan (Section V) did was shoot 25 percent from the field, hitting only 12 of 48 shots. Westhampton went 31-for-69 (44.9 percent).
"Our shots didn't fall. Our free throws didn't fall," said Penn Yan coach Rob Grattan. "It was one of the worst games we played all year. Obviously, to Westhampton's credit. When you play a good team like that, not converting our chances will make the margin of victory large."
Westhampton's defense was so good that it was able to overcome a poor game by Jermain Hollman. A five-year starter and all-around leader of the Hurricanes, Hollman struggled offensively, shooting 0-for-8 from the field for more than two quarters and was scoreless at halftime. "I was nervous; came out cold," Hollman said.
"Jermain fought through a really bad game," Westhampton coach Rich Wrase said. "I'm really proud of him. He didn't play well at all, but he hustled."
Hollman finished with 11 points (4-for-14 shooting) and nine rebounds. Even 6-6 junior Dwayne Sanders seemed invisible. Saddled with foul trouble in the first half, Sanders ended up with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks.
"When someone on our team is not playing well, the rest of us just pick up our games," said Menendez, who had 15 points and five rebounds. Menendez helped jump-start the Hurricanes (25-0), scoring six points as Westhampton took a 10-2 lead with 3:14 left in the first quarter.
Martin, who finished with a game-high 20 points, picked up from there. He hit a 15-footer from the corner with 1:05 left in the quarter and a 28-foot three-pointer as time expired to push the Westhampton lead to 15-8.
"Jermain really is our best player, but a great team can win without their best guy," Wrase said. "That's what happened. Bronson Martin and Jason Ritchie played great. Dale Menendez was unbelievable."
Chris Koek, a 6-3 senior, led Penn Yan (20-6) with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Defending state champion Syracuse-Westhill (Section III) awaits the Hurricanes in today's 1 p.m. title game. Westhill (27-0), which beat Section I Corning, 81-34, in the other semifinal, did it by opening with a 23-4 run.
"If we work as a team like we always do," Menendez said, "good things will happen."

STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASS B TOURNAMENT Box Score
TeamFirst QTSecond QTThird QTFouth QTTotal
Westhampton813162670
Penn Yan810161034
Penn Yan: Legg 2-0-4, Jensen 2-0-6, Tones 3-2-8, Wilbur 0-3-3, Koek 4-2-10, Wilson 1-0-2, French 0-1-1. Totals: 12-8-34.
Westhampton:
Menendez 7-1-15, Hollman 4-3-11, Ritchie 2-0-4, Sanders 2-1-5, Martin 9-0-20, Liggon 2-0-4, Ford 2-0-4, Bloxon 1-0-2, Andria 1-0-3, Green 1-0-2. Totals: 31-5-70.
Three-point goals: Penn Yan 2 (Jensen 2); Westhampton 3 (Martin 2, Andria).


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