The Watervliet fans were out in force for Wednesday's Region II Class B semifinal game between the Lady Cannoneers and Potsdam at Hudson Valley Community College - and the Watervliet girls gave them plenty to cheer about. Nae White scored 15 points and Jen Gates added 13 to lead the Lady Cannoneers to a 67-41 victory over Section X champion Potsdam. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record)

Gates jumps into the open arms of Watervliet junior Tierney McGlynn after being removed in the fourth quarter. White is sitting at the right of the picture.

Gates elevates to the hoop in Wednesday's game. The only senior on the Watervliet roster, Gates added seven rebounds in the game as the Cannoneers outmuscled the Sandstoners on the glass, 38-20.

Julie Ann Keegan looks to shoot as Potsdam's Tess Hazen (22) defends in Wednesday's game at Hudson Valley Community College. Keegan snared a game-high nine rebounds in the contest.

The Cannoneers head north on Saturday to play Northeastern Clinton (21-2), the Section VII champions and the No. 9 team in the state, in the Region II title game at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.
"We’re playing good, solid, fundamental, basketball," said Johnson. "I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next round but I wouldn’t want to play us, not now. These kids are confident and they think they can win this."
A season ago, Watervliet fell to Madrid-Waddington, 31-30, in the regional final. That memory provides motivation to some of the players, as does the fact that should the Cannoneers win on Saturday, they’ll return to Troy for the New York State Final Four.
"We want to come back here after the next game," McGlynn said. "So if we don’t get ahead of ourselves and just stay calm, we’ll be fine."

WATERVLIET 67, POTSDAM 41

POTSDAM: Curry 1-2-4, Maguire 1-1-4, Hazen 5-8-20, Hafer 3-2-8, Centofanti 1-0-2, KChambers 1-0-3. Totals: 12-13-41.
WATERVLIET: Demand 2-4-8, White 6-3-15, Gates 6-1-13, McGlynn 2-1-5, Keegan 1-0-2, Tolliver 3-0-6, Murray 1-2-5, Skelly 2-0-4, Normile 1-2-4, Chartrand 0-1-1, Schufelt 1-2-4. Totals: 25-16-67.
Potsdam (15-9) 5 7 9 20 – 41
Watervliet (18-6) 14 20 20 13 – 67
3-point goals: Potsdam 4 (Hazen 2, KChambers 1, Maguire 1). Watervliet 1 (Murray 1).

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Hoosic Valley advances in Potsdam

POTSDAM - Hoosic Valley senior Carolyn Houston scored nine of her 14 points in the fourth quarter as Hoosic Valley defeated Madrid-Waddington, 35-26, in Wednesday’s New York State Class C Region II semifinal played at SUNY-Potsdam.
The Indians (24-1), ranked No. 3 in the state, advance to face Section VII champion Ticonderoga (13-7) in the regional final, to be played Saturday at SUNY-Plattsburgh. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:45 p.m.
Hoosic Valley’s defense, as always, buckled down on the Madrid-Waddington offense. Madrid-Waddington (18-5), the Section X champion, managed only eight points before halftime.

HOOSIC VALLEY 35, MADRID-WADDINGTON 26

M-W: McIntosh 1-1-4, Shoen 4-5-13, Mouthhorp 2-0-4, Lancto 0-1-1, Streeter 2-0-4. Totals: 9-7-26.
HOOSIC VALLEY: Davidson 0-2-2, Moore 0-2-2, Chapko 1-1-4, Houston 4-6-14, Anderson 4-0-8, Sullivan 0-4-4, Lanoue 0-1-1. Totals: 9-16-35.
M-W (18-5) 3 5 5 13 – 26
Hoosic Valley (24-1) 8 7 6 20 – 35
3-point goals: Madrid-Waddington 1 (McIntosh 1). Hoosic Valley 1 (Chapko 1).