By P.J. Harmer

Staff Writer

It’s been six seasons since One

Senior Jarrin Hayen leads the Oneonta High girls basketball team into the Section Four Class A final against Elmira Southside today. The title game starts at 6 p.m. at the Broome County Arena. Photo by Michael Chacanaca

onta High won a Section Four girls basketball championship.

This from the same school that dominated 1997-99, winning three Section Four Class B titles, two state championships (1997, 1998) and one Federation crown (1998).

"I wasn’t coaching the girls when they won the state championships, I was still on the other side coaching boys," said OHS coach Bob Zeh, whose daughter Krissy keyed those championship teams of the late ’90s. "That was an outstanding group of young ladies and I don’t know if we’ll see a team like that again."

[an error occurred while processing this directive]What you will see is Oneonta going for another sectional title. The Jackets (16-4) play Elmira Southside (11-9) in the Section Four Class A championship game at 6 p.m. today at the Broome County Arena.

"The last five years, we’ve had winning seasons and this group of girls won two STAC JV championships," Zeh said. "They’re a good team. We’re looking forward to Thursday night and, hopefully, we’ll win a sectional title."

Oneonta enters today’s final as the third seed, one spot above Elmira Southside. Both teams advanced with semifinal upsets Friday, the Jackets beating No. 2 Owego, 51-33, and ESS knocking off No. 1 Corning East, 55-47.

OHS should pay attention to Holly Leszyk, who scored 17 points and hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead the Green Hornets past Corning East.

"She’s one of their point guards and she’ll certainly get our attention on defense," said Zeh, who added ESS is the one team in the tournament he hasn’t seen in person. "Anyone who makes four three-pointers in a quarter needs attention.

"They also have more height then we’ve seen recently," Zeh continued. "They like to press, so we have to control the tempo."

Katie Foster had 12 points and Hannah Davidson 10 against Corning East, which allowed nine three-pointers to the Green Hornets.

"It looks like they are fairly balanced, so we’ll have to play our zone defenses, get out to shooters and not key on anyone," Zeh said. "Our defense has been solid all year. The few games we lost, we didn’t shoot well or turned the ball over.

"Nothing good happens with turnovers," he continued. "It takes a shot opportunity away and you’re looking at a four-point turnaround a lot of times."

ESS likely will focus on Oneonta senior Jarrin Hayen (5-foot-11), who’s averaging 20.4 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 steals this winter. Junior guard Kate Jaffie (5-8) brings 13 points and four rebounds per game to the Jackets’ offense as well.

"Jarrin and Kate have been scoring well for us in sectionals," said Zeh, whose team opened sectionals with a 54-43 victory over Maine-Endwell on Feb. 15. "Jarrin and Kate are going to get their points. Neither are selfish and will find open people.

"(ESS) is a multiple-defense team," he continued, "so we have to figure out what they’re in and get the ball in the right people’s hands."

Junior Bridget Farago (3.5 assists) is Oneonta’s point guard. Senior forwards Dani Nader (five rebounds) and Renae Alvarez (five points, five rebounds) round out Oneonta’s starting lineup.

Zeh said he was hoping 5-10 junior Marie O’Malley would return from a two-game absence (mononucleosis) to help inside. Senior Tara Aikens and junior Sara Sason should be the first players off the bench.

"They’re all excited," Zeh said. "When we lost to Windsor and didn’t have a chance at the STAC (title), we started looking at sectionals.

"I thought the (Class) As were open and any of the top six teams could win," he continued. "If Owego had been healthy, it could have been a different battle. We now have to take advantage of it."

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P.J. Harmer can be reached at pharmer@thedailystar.com or 607-432-1000, ext. 229.