Maple Hill junior center Katie Roth faces the media Tuesday in the Maple Hill High School gymnasium. The Wildcats are sending both their boys and girls basketball teams to the New York State Class C Final Four. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Roth is Maple Hill's big-time scorer, as the 6-foot-2 junior center averages 18.6 points per game for the Wildcats.

Saturday afternoon in the New York State Class C semifinals, the Wildcats (23-0, ranked No. 1 in the state) will meet a team with a similar offensive approach.

The Tioga Tigers (21-1), the Section IV champions, are led by junior Kara McDuffee, who averages 21.9 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. McDuffe is a 6-foot-tall player that Maple Hill head coach Mark Bubniak likened to a "point forward," one proficient both inside and outside.

"If you compare her to someone from last year, maybe she's like Carolyn Houston a little bit," Bubniak said. "From Hoosic Valley. She's tall, she's lanky and she can get to the basket. She can bring the ball up at times. She has 33 threes on the year and she's shooting the three at 45 percent. From the foul line, she's at 85 percent. She's the real deal. We're definitely going to have to focus on her."

"They are kind of like us," Bubniak continued. "We have one main scorer and they have one main scorer, but then we both have role players that can step up at any given time."

Jessica Dailey and Sam Hendrick will likely split most of the defensive duties on McDuffee, but Bubniak said he plans on switching things up as the game goes along.

For a story on how Dailey and Hendrick plan to defend her (as well as how they deal with playing on a team where both of their fathers are assistant coaches, check out The Record later this week. We will also have video from the Maple Hill teams and the Averill Park girls coming soon).

"We're going to put two of our taller guards on her," Dailey said. "I think we should be fine. If she posts us up, we have Katie in there for help. So, we'll be OK."

Hendrick, one of six seniors on the roster, also believes she is leaving the program in good hands with up-and-coming youngsters like Aubrey Racz and Erin Mosher on the way.

"I think they're actually going to be pretty good," Hendrick said. "They've had the same coaches like we had and they know the basics. I think they can get to this point again because they all work hard all the time."

With the Maple Hill boys set to play their Class C semifinal game Friday afternoon in Glens Falls, rumors swirling around Maple Hill High School indicate a sudden bout of the 'basketball bug' could overtake the student body. There may be a lot of doctor and dentist appointments in Castleton Friday morning.

Luckily, the Maple Hill girls will play close to home at Hudson Valley Community College Saturday afternoon at 2:15 p.m. They're hoping the Castleton Crazies come out in force to root them on, especially the future Wildcats, currently in waiting.

"I almost think these kids are getting spoiled a little bit, especially the younger kids, the modified kids and the CYO kids that are coming to all of these games," Bubniak said. "You don't want to burst their bubble or anything, but it's not always like this, so you better enjoy it while it lasts."

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For recent scores and stats from Tioga girls games, click here.

For in-depth coverage of Tioga, check out www.ValleySportsReport.com

MATCHUP: Maple Hill (23-0) faces Section IV champion Tioga (21-1) in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal Saturday at 2:15 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College’s McDonough Athletic Complex in Troy.
TICKETS: $10 general admission, available at the door.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
MAPLE HILL WILDCATS

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Hgt., Ppg.
20, Erin Mosher, PG, Soph., 5-7, 2.3
10, Kristen DerGurahian, SG, Sr., 5-0, 6.9
30, Jessica Dailey, G/F, Sr., 5-10, 6.9
44, Anna Racz, F, Sr., 5-8, 6.7
40, Katie Roth, C, Jr., 6-2, 18.6

TIOGA TIGERS

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Ppg.
24, Callie Patsellis, G, Frosh., 4.5
11, Kara McDuffee, G/F, Jr., 21.9
20, Kacie Hoyt, G, Jr., 11.3
5, Ally Richter, G/F, Jr., 7.4
33, Marissa Miller, F, Sr., 3.5

2009-10 Small school girls basketball Final Four schedules:

All games at Hudson Valley Community College, Troy
(Tickets are $10 at the door)
Saturday, March 20
Class C
Marion vs. North Salem, 12:30 p.m.
Maple Hill vs. Tioga, 2:15 p.m.
Class D
John A. Coleman vs, Clymer, 9 a.m.
Harrisville vs. Davenport, 10:45 a.m.

Sunday, March 21
Class D title game, Noon
Class C title game, 1:45 p.m.