The clock struck 12 for the Cinderella Spartans as they fell to top-ranked Argyle Saturday in the Class D championship game.
Argyle took a big first quarter lead and was never threatened downing Sharon 55-23 at HVCC.
While the Spartans played hard and their rebounding and shooting improved in the second half, Argyle moved on to the state regionals.
Sharon trailed only 3-2 most of the first quarter before Argyle caught fire.
The Scots’ quick, smothering pressure defense made it very difficult for Sharon to get anything going early on. Argyle stole three straight inbounds passes and continued to steal passes and loose balls throughout the first quarter and the rest of the game.
After trailing by just one, Sharon saw the deficit increase as Argyle went on a 14-3 run to close out the first quarter.
The Scots could have been further in front but could not convert on many of their shots.
In a microcosm of the first quarter, the first period ended on an Argyle steal and layup at the buzzer.
Sharon did not score for the last 4:30 of the first quarter and the first 1:25 of the second until Jenessa Cummings hit a jumper to cut the Argyle lead to 17-7.
A steal followed by a layup by Olivia Tomaszewksi made it 17-9 as Sharon stayed in the game in the second quarter. Argyle did not score for the first 6:02 of the second quarter but Sharon, which could not get inside, failed to cut further into the lead.
Argyle led 21-11 at the half.
Sharon began to rebound and pass better in the second half but, unfortunately for the Spartans, Argyle started shooting better in the third quarter.
Argyle, despite leading by 10, shot only 19 percent from the field in the first half and hit only one-third of their foul shots.
It was a different story in the third quarter as Argyle went on a 15-1 run to put the game and championship away.
Two quick three-pointers, each followed by Argyle steals, helped seal the game for the Scots, as Sharon failed to connect for a field goal in the third quarter.
Argyle led 36-12 after the third quarter.
Tomaszewski led Sharon with 11 points and Paige Quimby added a three-pointer. Argyle hit four three-pointers, including two by Heather Salerno, who had a game-high 23 –points.
The Spartans advanced to Sectionals with a 49-44 upset win over Hartford in the semifinals last Thursday at Adirondack Community College.


MIDDLEBURGH
The girls from Maple Hill dominated the Knights in the first quarter paving the way for a 44-28 win in the Class C semi-finals Wednesday in Ballston Spa.
Maple Hill, ranked second in the class, came out strong and though MCS outscored Maple Hill 21-19 in the second and third quarters, the Knights could not overcome a 15-3 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
A tenacious Maple Hill defense forced Middleburgh into several early turnovers and Maple Hill continued its strong play on offense.
Maple Hill was able to control the inside and displayed crisp passing as it built a 13-0 lead. Middleburgh did not score for the first 6:32 of the game until Madison VanKuren hit a free throw.
Throughout the first quarter, the Knights tried to get the ball inside to VanKuren but repeatedly failed as Maple Hill used its height and strength advantage to control the paint. The center had only one point on the night.
MCS did not record a field goal in the first quarter. Ashley Farrell had two free throws for the Knights’ two other points in the first eight minutes.
Farrell opened the second quarter with the only three-pointer of the game to cut the lead to 15-6 and the Knights got as close as 17-8 after two free throws but Maple Hill then went on a 5-2 run.
The Knights ended the scoring in the first half as Ashley Costello converted a layup after a nice pass from Hannah Farrell.
Maple Hill held a 24-12 halftime lead but MCS hung tough again in the third quarter outscoring Maple Hill 12-10 to cut the lead to 34-24 entering the final quarter.
The Knights were able to cut the lead to six in the third quarter but Maple Hill, with a deep bench, was able to hold the Knights at bay.
Ashley Farrell, a senior, led the Knights in scoring with 13 points while sophomore Lindsay Standhart added six. Sarah Timmons led the Wildcats with 17 points.
The Knights, ranked sixth in Class, reached the semifinals by beating third-ranked Warrensburg and Hadley-Luzerne in prior Sectionals game.