Loudonville native and former Academy of the Holy Names student-athlete - and four-time defending Troy Turkey Troy champion - Liz Maloy finishes the 32nd annual Freihofer's Run for Women Saturday in Albany. She placed 10th overall in 15:53. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Emily Chebet, a 24 year-old Kenyan, won the 32nd annual Freihofer's Run for Women race Saturday in Albany in 15:12, breaking Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui's course record of 15:18, set in 2005.

The local story was Liz Maloy, a former standout at Holy Names who became a college star at Georgetown in recent years. Although she had won four straight Troy Turkey Trots - a Maloy family tradition - this was her first serious, major 5K road race.

"They went out kind of conservatively and then when they crested the hill they totally took off," Maloy said of the race leaders. "My coach and I were thinking to not go right with them just because it is so hilly and a lot of these girls are marathoners and 10K runners. I don't think I'm quite strong enough yet to run with them for three miles but I'm really happy with how I placed."

Our Ryan Kircher and David Filkins covered the race, so for more about the Freihofer's Run, be sure to check out Sunday's edition of The Record.

I will also have a story Sunday on the Watervliet track team's success despite not having a track on the school campus, as well as notes on the rest of the athletes from Section II who will be running in the state meet Friday and Saturday in Vestal.

32nd Freihofer's Run For Women

1. Emily Chebet (Kenya) 15:12, 2. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 15:20, 3. Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) 15:23, 4. Teyba Erkesso (Ethiopia) 15:36, 5. Belainesh Zemedkum (Ethiopia) 15:44, 6. Jelliah Tinega (Kenya) 15:48, 7. Benita Willis (AUS) 15:49, 8. Amane Gobena (Ethiopia) 15:50, 9. Rebecca Donaghue (USA) 15:50, 10. Elizabeth Maloy (USA) 15:53.

The starting line at the 32nd annual Freihofer's Run for Women in downtown Albany on June 5, 2010.

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Here are some video clips from today's Section II Class A championship game featuring Averill Park and Holy Names:



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Averill Park senior Katie Duma, Section II Class A Tournament MVP, picks up her dribble and prepares to shoot over Holy Names' Jackie Murphy during the 2009-10 Section II Class A title game at Hudson Valley Community College Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Couch - The Record).

Holy Names may have entered Saturday's Section II Class A championship game with an undefeated record, but they had not played a team matching Averill Park's caliber so far.

Averill Park jumped out to an early lead and Katie Duma took care of business from the foul line in the fourth quarter, making 16 of 21 free throw attempts for the Lady Warriors in the 55-36 victory.

It was Averill Park's third Section II Class A title in five years.

"It's been a long road and it's great to see all that hard work pay off," Duma said. "Our team has been together since third grade. It's what we've all been working for as long as we've been playing and this is so special to us."

2009-10 Section II Class A girls basketball All-Tournament team:

Maria Allocco, Jr., Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Rebecca Smith, Sr., Ichabod Crane
Jackie Murphy, Sr., Holy Names
Sarah Agan, Jr., Holy Names
Brittany O'Shea, Sr., Averill Park
MVP - Katie Duma, Sr., Averill Park

Molly Streb (33) sets a pick on Holy Names' Lee Arduini (50), making way for Averill Park's Katie Duma during Saturday's Section II Class A title game at Hudson Valley Community College.

Brooke O'Shea had a great first half for Averill Park, scoring eight points by halftime. She ran into foul trouble in the third quarter, however, and was relegated to the bench.

Michaela Ottati added a trio of treys and Lauren Nunziato also pitched in with a pair of long-range jumpers.

Still, it was Duma's day, as the senior leader took a beating in the fourth quarter and carried her team to the victory. She has plenty of fans in the stands, perhaps none bigger than former Cohoes and Mechanicville head coach Joe Loudis. He coached Katie's father, Steve Duma, at Cohoes in the early 1970s. Both of them have rooted for the Warriors through all of their successes the last few seasons.

"My dad has really been my...I can't really talk," an emotional Duma said. "He's really been my
biggest inspiration and I couldn't have done anything without him. He gives the greatest support I could have."

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For New York State girls basketball regional round and Final Four brackets, click here.

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In the Class D title game, Argyle topped Whitehall, 51-42. Freshman Jacquelyn Miller scored 18 points for the Scots, earning MVP honors.

Heatly's Stasha Cuzdey was also honored as an All-Tournament selection.

2009-10 Section II Class D girls basketball All-Tournament team:

Taylor Race, Sr., Germantown
Stasha Cuzdey, Jr., Heatly
Brittany St. Clair, Sr., Whitehall
Katie Paddock, Jr., Whitehall
Sarah Bonhote, Sr., Arglye
MVP - Jacquelyn Miller, Frosh., Argyle

Shenendehowa head coach Ken Strube (left) the winningest all-time in Section II history, boys or girls, will face one of his former players, Shaker's second-year head coach Emily Caschera, in today's Section II Class AA final. Off The Record will be bringing you updates in the chat window below. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Thanks for reading.

1:45 p.m. - Class A title game - Averill Park 55, Holy Names 36
3:30 p.m. - Class D title game - Argyle 51, Whitehall 42
5:15 p.m. - Class AA title game - Shenendehowa 47, Shaker 42

Click on the replay button in the window below to re-read the chat.

Check back on the site here for live blogs from the girls basketball games at Hudson Valley Community College Friday and Saturday. I'll also be bringing you updates from the boys Section II championships in Glens Falls all day Sunday.

For now, here are some title game capsules for the girls games tomorrow:

Class A

(No. 1 seed) Averill Park vs. (No. 2) Academy of the Holy Names

Saturday, March 6, 1:45 p.m.
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy

About Averill Park: The Lady Warriors have shrugged off a regular season-finale loss at Colonie to defeat Glens Falls and Burnt Hills in the first two round of the Section II playoffs by a combined score of 110-50. Averill Park has the complete package. They have playmakers on offense, who also turn around to play ferocious defense. A deep bench also makes them dangerous in up-tempo or halfcourt styles of play. They're nearly impossible to beat.
About Holy Names: Holy Names made a second consecutive undefeated run through the Colonial Council regular season, and it won games over Lansingburgh and Ichabod Crane in the first two rounds of the Class A playoffs. They will be without Kierra Moore for the remainder of the postseason, however, giving the team one fewer option.
What to watch: The Averill Park fans will certainly be out in full force - how will that rattle Holy Names? The final score may not be as lopsided as it was in the first two rounds for Averill Park, but a limping Holy Names team shouldn't stand much of a chance against the Warriors, at least based on Averill Park's track record so far this season. Averill Park lost to Mohonasen in last year's championship game and you know these seniors are chomping at the bit to prove that this is their year. Will the Warriors have trouble adjusting to the larger floor at HVCC? Will it have an impact on their three-point shooters?

Class AA

(Suburban Council No. 2 seed) Shenendehowa vs. (Suburban No. 3) Shaker

Saturday, March, 6, 5:15 p.m.
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy

About Shen: The Lady Plainsmen earned a tough draw in the Section II Class AA tournament, having to travel to Catholic Central for a quarterfinal round victory over Amsterdam before beating CCHS at HVCC Wednesday evening. This team recently made head coach Ken Strube the all-time winningest in Section II basketball history - boys or girls - but can they win another Section II title for him?
About Shaker: The Blue Bison finally beat a team they were not supposed to in the semifinal round, topping No. 1 seed Colonie, 64-49. Shaker has had plenty of promise for the past two seasons, and now it's finally starting to show. They have a nice balance of size - Lauren Woods and MacKenzie Rowland are hard to stop inside - and perimeter weapons.
What to watch: The last time these teams played, it came down to the wire, as Shen won on Meg Rogers' buzzer-beating jump shot in Latham.
The battle will be for tempo in this one. If Shaker can keep the pace quick, they may be able to get Shen out of its slow-it-down mentality. On the other hand, Shen has some experience in this situation, but they also have everything to lose by facing an "underdog" team in Shaker. It will certainly be entertaining, that's for sure.

Class D

(No. 1 seed) Whitehall vs. (No. 3) Argyle

Saturday, March, 6, 3:30 p.m.
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy
What to watch:

Class B

Teams to be determined
Monday, March 8, 7:30 p.m.
Adirondack Community College, Queensbury

Class CC/C playoff

Monday, March 8, 6 p.m.
Adirondack Community College, Queensbury

Heatly senior guard Dominic Patalino floats through the lane as he attempts a shot over Loudonville Christian's Koury Deeb during Tuesday's CHVL game at Loudonville Christian School. Heatly scored the game's first eight points and won, 66-53. (All photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

The Hornets weren't able to play the type of game they like to play in Loudonville's cramped gym, as the small court dimensions prevented them from running and squeezed the Heatly perimeter game.

Alex Heffern, however, managed to hit four three-point buckets en route to 22 total points and J.R. Gleason, Heatly's 6-foot-3 senior center, added 14 points and seven rebounds in the paint for the Hornets.

Four teams entered play on Tuesday tied at 5-1 for first place in the Central Hudson Valley League standings: Heatly, Loudonville, New Lebanon and Germantown.

The stage is set for a classic pennant race as the second half of the season winds down and the Hornets took a big step forward Tuesday, especially considering the 20-point loss at home to Germantown that happened just last Thursday.

The Hornets were pumped-up from the get-go Tuesday night, but their head coach wanted to assure them that they need to play like this every night if they wish to repeat as CHVL regular season champions.

"It’s fun, it really is," said Heatly head coach Peter Heffern. "They know that they have to show up every night. It’s not just the top four teams. Hawthorne is playing well and you have to go and play against the other teams too. You have to show up. I think our league is a lot better than it was a few years ago. The coaches are doing well, the kids are responding and I think everybody is seeing the results of it: good basketball."

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The crowd at Loudonville was big and they were loud, especially as the Eagles drew to within 10 points late in the fourth quarter. Cullen Overholt scored a game-high 23 points, but the Eagles threw up too many bricks throughout the game to make a legitimate run at a comeback.

Read more about the game and how Alex Heffern and J.R. Gleason work together on the court in Wednesday's edition of The Record.

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Watervliet's Tierney McGlynn looks to pass as Holy Names' Leah Arduini defends during Tuesday's Colonial Council game at Holy Names. Holy Names won, 52-23, extending its winning streak in league play to 28 games.

Holy Names' Sarah Agan looks to take a shot over a pair of Watervliet defenders during Tuesday's game. Holy Names, 10-0 this season, was ranked No. 4 in the latest NYS Class A poll.

Watervliet freshman guard Ailayia Demand (1) elevates toward the hoop during Tuesday's game at Holy Names as Fallon Witte (22) defends and Leah Arduini looks on.

"Holy Names played terrific," Watervliet head coach Gordie Johnson told our Ryan Kircher. "They played great and they killed us on the offensive boards. They took us out of everything we do, we couldn't get open looks and when we did we didn't finish them."

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Record.

Watervliet senior forward Nae White elevates for a shot during Monday's practice at the high school. (Photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

The Watervliet girls basketball team keeps track of a special statistic, one head coach Gordie Johnson calls a "deflection." It's not quite as obvious as a steal or a block, just a tip of a pass or a shot that can lead to a turnover and fast break points for the Lady Cannoneers.

Senior foward Nae White leads the team in scoring and she also averages about nine deflections a game, meaning she picks up a lot of Arsenal City double-doubles.

Watervliet will certainly need their "designated defender" Tuesday night against Holy Names, as the Cannoneers (8-1, 8-1, No. 10 Class B) trail Holy Names (9-0, 9-0, No. 4 Class A) by a game in the Colonial Council standings. Tipoff at Holy Names is set for 7:30 p.m.

For more on White's story, check out Wednesday's edition of The Record.

Watervliet senior guard Tierney McGlynn is one of the team's leaders in the backcourt and she's also a big force in the huddle.

Holy Names has been a dominant force in the Colonial for the past two seasons. They were undefeated (18-0) a season ago and have won 27 consecutive games in the council.

Watervliet last toppled the Albany school on Dec. 1, 2006.

Holy Names has plenty of experience and plenty of talent, but so does this Watervliet team. Either way, whichever team wins makes a big statement as they start the second half of the Colonial Council regular season.

"Everyone is excited for the game," White said. "When we play Holy Names, it’s usually a good game. They’re a good team, we’re a good team and it’s going to be a good game."

Lansingburgh's Tina Johnston (33) attempts a shot during Tuesday's Colonial Council basketball game at the Academy of the Holy Names. Kierra Moore (42), Fallon Witte (220 and Hannah Wilson (r) look to defend the shot. Johnston finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, but Holy Names held off the Knights to claim a 52-43 victory and claim their first Colonial Council title since they won four straight from 2002-05. (All photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

Lansingburgh's Erin Glikes (11) looks to move the ball upcourt during Tuesday's game as Holy Names' Sarah Agan (12) looks on. The Lady Knights took a 12-10 lead after the first quarter but Holy Names rattled off seperate 12-0 and 8-0 runs in the second to stake a big lead. Kierra Moore paced Holy Names with 16 points and Casey Spicer added 13.

Lansingburgh's Ariana Youngs elevates for a layin during Tuesday's game as Holy Names' Lee Arduini (50) looks on. Youngs finished with 13 points, six steals and four assists. She was involved in a violent collision at the end of the game and was shaken up, but was laughing with coach Mari Warner a few minutes after the game and appeared to be OK.

"Lansingburgh is a very good program and Mari does a phenomenal job so it’s good for us to get a win aginst a very good team, like Lansingburgh, that’s won nine straight," said Holy Names head coach Steven Gigliello.

It was a good win for Holy Names (16-0, 18-0), the No. 3 Class A team in New York, mainly because Lansingburgh is the only Class A team they meet during the regular season. Certainly, teams such as Watervliet and Voorheesville also give Holy Names a good challenge, but it's important that Holy Names win the games against Class A competition for the seeding committee, who also have to consider teams from the Suburban Council that play up against Class AA teams all season.

“It’s a big step we had to overcome,” Moore said. “We knew we needed to win for sectionals and our standing in sectionals. This is a booster. Now we have the momentum to keep going through sectionals.”

An interesting side note, Siena College men's basketball player Kenny Hasbrouck was in attendance.

HOLY NAMES 52, LANSINGBURGH 43

LANSINGBURGH: Youngs 5-2-13, Brown 3-1-7, Glikes 4-0-9, Fane 1-0-2, Johnston 5-0-10, Rebhun 0-2-2. Totals: 18-5-43.

HOLY NAMES: Murphy 3-0-6, Agan 1-1-4, CaSpicer 5-3-13, Moore 6-4-16, Arduini 2-0-4, Wilson 3-1-7. Totals: 20-9-52.

Lansingburgh (13-4, 13-6) 12 10 13 9 – 43

Holy Names (16-0, 18-0) 10 24 9 8 – 52

3-point goals: Lansingburgh 2 (Youngs 1, Glikes 1). Holy Names 1 (Agan 1). JV: AHN, 41-18.

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In other girls games, Hoosic Valley defeated Cambridge to claim its fourth consecutive Wasaren League title. Look for more from Hoosic Valley head coach Walt Dorman in Wednesday's editon of The Record, as well as the Lansingburgh-Holy Names story. Hoosic Valley faces Tamarac, who won again on Tuesday, in a scary matchup on Friday the 13th.
The Schenectady girls wrapped up the Big 10 title and Mohonasen marched a step closer towards locking up the Suburban Council South Division with a victory over Colonie. Bethlehem remains two games behind with two to play, so a tie is still technically possible.
Watervliet knocked off Voorheesville, and the Lady Cannoneers have been on a roll lately.
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On the boys side Tuesday night, Watervliet beat Voorheesville, 49-47 - meaning Lansingburgh is on track to lock up their first Colonial Council title since 1990 with a pair of victories. They hit the road to take on Mechanicville on Friday and then they host Cohoes next Tuesday. Should Lansingburgh win out, the title is theirs. So it looks like the Knights owe the Cannoneers a thank you note should it work out that way. Voorheesville and Lansingburgh were looking destined for a first place tie before the Watervliet upset. The Cannoneers have to be considered a big-time dark horse in the Class B bracket this year with the way they've been playing lately. They've also made a crowded field that much more competitive if they can keep it up.
La Salle beat crosstown rival Troy High by one point in double overtime. Troy rallied 22-13 in the fourth quarter to force overtime but just couldn't hang on in the second OT period. La Salle's Mason Horne hit 11 of 16 free throws.