Tartans’ Broadhead chooses BYU

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

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Cassie Broadhead always wanted play college basketball at Brigham Young University.

“Ever since I started playing basketball,” said the Scotia-Glenville junior, who recently gave her verbal commitment to Cougars’ coach Jeff Judkins. “That always where I wanted to go.”

The two-time Foothills Council Most Valuable Player will be continuing a family tradition when she enrolls at the Provo, Utah school.

“My olders sisters both went to BYU, and I like the school and area,” said Broadhead, who was a state Class A third-team choice last winter.

“It’s not unexpected,” said Scotia coach Regan Burns. “Her parents went to BYU, so did her sisters. She’s always wearing BYU gear. She’s been to camps at BYU.

“To have a DI school interested enough in her at this stage, that says a lot about type of player Cassie is, what she’s done in just three years.”

“I wanted to decide early,” said Broadhead, who can’t officially sign with the Cougars until next year. “Now I can concentrate on improving the next two years.”

Broadhead’s ability to score both from long range and in the lane made her an attractive recruit.

“The BYU coach said I would probably be a combo guard,” said Broadhead, who averaged 17.1 points per game last winter as the Tartans went 14-0 in the Foothills Council and got to the semifinals of the Class A tournament. “He wants me to work on my range, and to just keep getting better all-around.”

“Cassie has a great work ethic,” said Burns. “She is always doing the extra things to get better, whether it’s working on her shot, or getting into the weight room.”

Broadhead, whose family moved here from Texas, plays AAU basketball with the Saratoga Sparks. She helped the Sparks U14 team finish sixth in the 2010 national tournament.

“That helped me realize I could play at that level, against very good players,” she said.

Burns is looking forward to watching Broadhead raise her game the next two years.

“She’s not the type that’s going to be satisfied with what she’s already accomplished,” said Burns. “It’s been an exciting time for her, and I only see her getting better.”

DRAGONS NOT PLAYING

Gloversville High School will be without a varsity girls’ basketball team this season.

Gloversville athletic director Mike DeMagistris said 19 girls signed up to play varsity ball for the Lady Dragons.

“We had one senior who played in the past, and the rest were freshmen and two or three sophomores,” said DeMagistris of those who expressed interest. “We can’t put inexperienced freshmen in our league. Losing is one thing, but losing by 50, 60 points serves no purpose.”

Gloversville will have a junior varsity team and two modified teams competing in basketball this season.

“Our administration felt this was the best thing for us to move forward,” said DeMagistris. “This is the best thing for the program, so we can build it back up.”

Gloversville’s varsity won only two games last season with a roster that included three seniors, five juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen.

“We met with all the returning players,” said DeMagistris. “It was their decision not to play.”

Gloversville won the Foothills Council championship during the 2006-07 season with a 13-1 record. The league’s seven varsity teams from Broadalbin-Perth, Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Johnstown, Queensbury, Scotia-Glenville and South Glens Falls will play a 12-game schedule this season.

North wins again

Jesse Spencer of Saratoga Springs and Tony Giroux of Greenwich ran for two touchdowns apiece, and the North beat the South for the fifth year in a row, 34-27, in Wednesday night’s Section II Senior All-Star Game at Christian Brothers Academy.

Spencer’s fourth-quarter touchdown runs from four and 24 yards away helped the North overcome a 27-20 deficit. Niskayuna quarterback Rob Singleton and Nic Ketter of Queensbury hooked up for the North’s other touchdown, on a 54-yard pass for the game’s longest play.

The South got a scoring pass from Garrett Delory of LaSalle to Trey Silver of Bethlehem, touchdown returns from Greg Cleveland of CBA (fumble) and Antoine Johnson of Watervliet (interception), and two field goals from Jon Martin including a 45-yarder.

The South leads the all-time series, 12-11, with eight straight wins from 1999-2006. Schenectady’s Kirieme Pitts scored three touchdowns in the North’s 23-14 win last year.

Regional field hockey

Section II field hockey champions Shenendehowa, Johnstown and Greenwich will travel to Greene High School for state quarterfinal games today against the Section IV (Binghamton-Ithaca area) representatives.

The Lady Plainsmen (14-5) meet Greene (15-0) in a Class A game at 1, looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to the Trojans in last year’s quarterfinals. Twin sisters Elizabeth and Mary Kate Cusack scored goals in Shenendehowa’s 2-1 overtime Section II title-game win over Niskayuna. Greene beat Vestal for the Section IV crown, 3-0, with Emily Conroe getting a goal and an assist.

Greene won its sixth state championship in 2009, and saw its 38-game winning streak halted in last season’s semifinals by Mamaroneck.

Johnstown (15-2) meets Maine-Endwell (11-1-1) in a Class B game at 3, marking the Lady Bills’ first state tourney appearance since 2003. Johnston got two goals from Ashley Dona in a 4-2 win over Glens Falls in the Section II final. Gabby Stein notched three goals, and Maine-Endwell beat Owego for its eighth straight Section IV banner, 7-0.

Greenwich (19-0) meets Sidney (10-7-1) in a Class C contest at 5. Greenwich beat Schuylerville behind Dani DeGregory’s two goals, 2-1, to advance to state play. Sidney upset Section IV No. 1 seed Marathon, 2-1, on goals by Meridith Delello to earn its first state berth.

College signings

Niskayuna lacrosse players Ritchie Assini (Johns Hopkins),

Janeen Bell (Albany), Justin Picardi (Holy Cross), Emily Ryan (Louisville), Matt Sexton and Kayla Treanor (Syracuse) signed college letters of intent Wednesday.

Guilderland had seven lacrosse players sign: Kelly Camardo (Fairfield), Kendall Cietek (Villanova), Mackenzie Cietek (Villanova), Shelby Iapoce (Fairfield), Connor MacLachlin (Mercy), Daniel Santandrea (LeMoyne) and Patrick Wood (Stony Brook).

Amsterdam swimming standout Antonio Lanzi made his commitment to the University at Buffalo official Wednesday. Ichabod Crane volleyball star Monica Hall will sign with Coastal Carolina Tuesday.

Unbeaten again

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake varsity, junior varsity and freshman girls’ volleyball teams under Gary Bynon, Melissa Armstrong and Sue Gestwick, respectively, each went 16-0 in the Suburban Council for the second year in a row.