Back-to-back finalists from Schaghticoke come up just short for second straight year

Hoosic Valley's Jessica Lanoue (25) and Brooke Ryan (41) walk off the court as Nazareth Academy players celebrate their 2009 New York State Class C championship Sunday afternoon at Hudson Valley Community College. Lanoue and Ryan will be counted on to carry the load as the Indians look to reach the state title game yet again in 2010. (All photos in this post by J.S. Carras - The Record)

Hoosic Valley head coach Walter Dorman consoles senior point guard Carlee Chapko after she fouled out late in Sunday's loss to Nazareth. Chapko made a huge steal in the Section II Class CC championship game against Voorheesville and hit four first half three-pointers in a state semifinal victory over Stony Brook - also on that some court at HVCC. Along with fellow senior starters Erin Davidson, Rebecca Moore, Carolyn Houston and Sam Anderson, Chapko will be sorely missed by the Indians program.

Rebecca Moore leaps into the arms of Sam Anderson following the Indians' Class C semifinal victory over the Stony Brook School at HVCC.

Carlee Chapko and Erin Davidson (r) and Brianna Ryan (l) look on.


Sam Anderson leaps over Stony Brook's Danielle Spiliotis during Saturday's semifinal victory over the Bears. Anderson scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory.

Carolyn Houston (r) jumps for the ball in a victory against Stony Brook. A day later, Houston sank a halfcourt shot just before halftime to give the Indians a one-point lead heading into the break against Nazareth Academy.

The Indians salute the hometown crowd after Saturday's victory over Stony Brook.

The Hoosic Valley faithful made themselves heard all weekend long at Hudson Valley. Between all of the Section II tournament games and the New York State Final Four, it's become a home away from home for the Indians.

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Hoosic Valley's brand of basketball (defense, defense, defense) is a bit of an acquired taste, but their teams (boys or girls) always provide an interesting game to watch.
Whether it's a buzzer-beating shot or playing Voorheesville to a 25-23 slugfest in the Section II final, the Indians do it their way. Even though the team fell a few points short of their ultimate goal, it's the attitude and the philosophy that carried them this far so many years in a row. With a crop of brand-new starters next season, it's still hard to imagine their defense not being as stifling as ever when November rolls around.