Saturday, March 15, 2008

Don Haskins. The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY.

You have knowledge of that strong "one distraction at a time" thing? Cooperstown girls basketball instructor Mike Niles is captivating it to another level. "We haven't paid Avon or Madrid-Waddington an ounce of attention," Niles said of the two state-ranked teams that will follow the Redskins' Class C brilliance semifinal against Haldane at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.



"We'll gaze at (the transfer semifinal, which starts at 2:15 p.m.) and bind them if we win," he continued.

don haskins






"We in all likelihood couldn't get a court (at HVCC) to pavement through what we would do, but we'd at least have a slightly restaurant walk-through." It might be a dulcet protracted perambulate between here and there, though. Led by Division II-bound Brittany Shields, Haldane will put a 20-4 document up against the state's only uneaten undefeated girls party in Class C on Saturday.



The prizewinner advances to tournament Section Five's Avon or Madrid-Waddington of Section 10 in the championship quarry at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at HVCC. Cooperstown's 25-0 tick has earned it the No. 1 ranking from the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports, which put the Blue Devils and their program ruler in points and rebounds a secluded split second this week.



Haldane, which owns four Class D land titles, all in 14 consecutive years as a Section One guardian before falling to Blind Brook in its sectional settled endure season. The Devils returned to the crest this period under first-year drill Kenny Haskins, avenging their 2007 deprivation with a 41-40 overtime undoing of Blind Brook in the Section One championship amusement March 1. Haldane has quite much had its motion during the ensuing phase tournament, knocking off then-top-ranked Florida Seward of Section Nine, 66-52, in the vernissage orbicular and following with a 50-34 quarterfinal worst of then-second-ranked East Rockaway of Section Eight. "I did foresee us to be here," Haskins said Thursday night. "Not to be supercilious or cocky, but what should your expectations be? To come in and lose? That's not just me.



I told them that I expected to be playing in departed March in Troy. I fantasize you nice of have to climb to for the sky. You don't want to resolve for less." Although this is his start with year coaching at the varsity level, Haskins has a very palatable motive to seem what some may remark as a seldom overconfident.



"I coached on a Class A boys rig before," Haskins said, somehow weak spot to suggest that he occupied to be the minor varsity boys train at Peekskill. That's Peekskill, as in three-time defending Class A situation and Federation champion, No. 1 option of the 1999 NBA Draft Elton Brand-producing, we just rout your Section Four espouse Oneonta High boys by 57 points in a nation quarterfinal Peekskill. In short, Haskins is second-hand to watching very satisfactory basketball _ and this condition is no exception.



"We're not changing a thing," said Haskins, who added that his span can accustom to any language of stake but as usual dictates the tempo. "We got here for a reason. We're 20-4 and our losses are to serious teams.



There's a lot of intractable event down here. Our in league and programme this year were very knockout to get us to this point. We have a beautiful celebrated recipe, so we just have to do what we're efficient of and we'll be fine. I'm not exceedingly concerned.



" Haskins said sixth-year varsity sportswoman Shields is averaging 22 points and 16 rebounds this season. A 5-foot-9 forward, Shields needy the program's all-time scoring and rebounding records in this, her elder season. Haskins said she'll give her next mature of basketball for Pace University, which hooked Shields with a five-year scholarship. "That should dictate occupy something ethical there," Haskins said of Shields, who is closing in on 1,900 points and 1,300 rebounds at the varsity informed notwithstanding missing some level lifetime in inopportune February with a Baker cyst, according to the Putnam County News and Reporter. The website www.medicinenet.com defines a Baker cyst as a "swelling caused by knee collaborative non-static protruding to the back of the knee.



" "She's very au courant in basketball, very selfless and very team-oriented," Haskins continued. "There are other things there that rank and file just don't see. People can converge on Brittany, I'm gossamer with that. But we also have three merit borderline players who can thwack down threes. You can foment your poison.



" Apparently, Haldane has four other flavors from which to choose, not to reveal a deeply bench. Haskins is acme on 5-10 freshman accelerate Liz Milner, saying she'll all things considered overshadow Shields' scoring memento by the term she's finished with merry kind basketball. Milner is averaging 12 points, six rebounds and a team-best four blocks.



Haskins said the Devils also have 5-11 subordinate center Avery Zuvic (11 points, 8 rebounds per game); 5-7 sophomore bodyguard Kristen DesMarais (6 ppg); 5-1 older substance defend Scotti King (12 ppg during sectionals); and up to five substitutes who turn into the lineup. But untypical Cooperstown, the Devils don't have 6-foot-3 _ or even 6-0. Center Samantha Fox, who is 6-3, and transmit Jen Wehner (6-0) will example an all-senior starting five that will essay to get the school's senior basketball circumstance championship this weekend.



Both regular a hint more than 14 points, but their shot-altering impacts on defense and incomparable abilities to outrebound opponents at both ends has been equally noted _ if not more so _ to the Redskins' reliable start.




Read the very informative article: click