MY ALL-CONFERENCE, CONFERENCE IV:

First-team all-conference —

• Michelle Djonovic, Dover


• Jackie Giuliano, Dobbs Ferry


• Sam Levine, Blind Brook


• Shereen Lightbourne, Hamilton


• Brittany Shields, Haldane

• Katrina Blackman, Tuckahoe


• Danielle Fiacco, North Salem


• Keren Mikva, Blind Brook


• Liz Milner, Haldane


• Avery Zuvic, Haldane

• Michelle Caley, Blind Brook


• Margo Hackett, Pawling


• Tori McGuinn, Valhalla


• Dana Nucaro, Valhalla


• Jill Olimpieri, North Salem

Coach of the year — Kenny Haskins, Haldane

You think Conference I is strong? Check out these teams…not bad…

MY ALL-CONFERENCE, CONFERENCE III:

First-team all-conference —

• Maggie Blair, Briarcliff


• Shelby Coon, Briarcliff


• Kelly Mulligan, Pearl River


• Porsha Postell, Woodlands


• Alaina Walker, Albertus Magnus

• Tara Gabelman, Irvington


• Ashley Huber, Albertus Magnus


• K.C. Jentzen, Nanuet


• Lauren Kahn, Nanuet


• Monique Tilford, Woodlands

• Darian Cotto, Edgemont


• Riley Harrington, Irvington


• Taylor Pescetti, Briarcliff


• Savina Reid, Briarcliff


• Lauren Tracy, Kennedy

Coach of the year — Don Hamlin, Briarcliff

These will grow tougher as I move along. Hopefully, I’ve done my homework:

MY ALL-CONFERENCE, CONFERENCE II:

First-team all-conference —

• Allyson Biordi, Beacon


• Brittany Garrett, Ossining


• Tori Jarosz, Lakeland


• Courtney Miller, Horace Greeley


• Kara Tancredi, Beacon

• Taylor Jackson, Horace Greeley


• Theresa Pagnani, Tappan Zee


• Rachel Thomas, Brewster


• Emily Sanders, John Jay


• Kelsey Vallach, Ossining

• Asia Jackson, Peekskill


• Brianna Melilli, Beacon


• Jaclyn Miller, Horace Greeley


• Devon Quattrocchi, Brewster


• Alex Venuto, Ossining

Coach of the year — Christina Dahl, Beacon

OK, here’s a look at who I think would win the all-conference nods if the section handed out its awards this way:

MY ALL-CONFERENCE, CONFERENCE I:

First-team all-conference —

• Mary Abrams, North Rockland


• Angelei Aguirre, White Plains


• Nadia Duncan, Mount Vernon


• Kwinnyata Mercer, Mount Vernon


• Caitlynn Moran, JJEF

• Kim Dweck, Lourdes


• Meghan Murphy, Carmel


• Shannon Ray, Ursuline


• Shelby Sferra, Ursuline


• Teneka Whittaker, Lourdes

• Gillian Felix, Mahopac


• Tricia Liller, Ursuline


• Taylor Palmer, Mount Vernon


• Kristen Schmidt, Suffern


• Shanyce Stewart, Mount Vernon

Coach of the year — Sue Adams, White Plains

These last two years I’ve debated with coaches about Section 1’s current system for determining all-section girls hoops picks. It’s fine the way it is — I think the choices are fair — but it often comes down to how to divide the picks among leagues. Really though, how can you possibly compare Class AA players with those from Class C? It’s tough.

What I prefer is all-conference teams, like they have in the boys. Kevin went to the dinner last night, so you can get a better understanding of how they divvy up the selections by checking out his post.

The selections include a Mr. Basketball, a coach of the year, and a first and second team for the whole section. Then, on top of that, they include all-conference picks for Conferences I, II, III, and IV, as well as a player of the year and a coach of the year in each conference.

To me, it makes perfect sense. Rather than compare apples to oranges, you’re comparing apples to apples. Everyone would get his or her appropriate recognition among the group of players or coaches he or she competed against.

Anyone have thoughts on the matter? I’ll post my all-conference teams throughout the rest of the week . Three teams for each conference, plus a player and a coach of the year. Would everyone be interested in reading that?

As I lie here on the couch in my Giants hoodie, I am quite amazed.

For four years I have often watched LoHudders rise to the doorsteps of championships only to reach for the trophy on the other side and come a fingernail short. No longer. Time to throw down the welcome mat and trim the hedges: The LoHud is now the home of small-school basketball.

Just consider: There were five championships decided in the last two weeks in public, catholic and independent girls hoops. All five were won by LoHud teams, and most were won handily, as if the outcome was never in question.

All five!

First came Good Counsel, the CHSAA “C” champ over Notre Dame of Manhattan. Next came Maria Regina, the CHSAA “B” champ over Cardinal Spellman. The Tigers then went on to sweep through St. Saviour of Brooklyn and Nardin of Buffalo to win the state title for the first time in program history.

Around the same time, as Good Counsel and Maria Regina wrapped up archdiocesan titles on the other side of the Bronx, Hackley, a team that didn’t get much pub during the year, finished storming through the NYSAISAA “C” tournament. The Hornets capped the season with a victory in the championship game at Fieldston in Riverdale.

Of course, this victory-happy stretch was capped with championships by Briarcliff (Class B on Saturday) and Haldane (Class C on Sunday) that coincided with Mount Vernon and Peekskill losses in Glens Falls.

I didn’t realize until during the Haldane game on Sunday just how remarkable it was. Every small-school championship at every level was won by a local school. Every single one.

For argument’s sake, please realize that in my first three years only Lakeland (2007, Class A) won a state/archdiocesan/independent-school championship.

What a stunning turnaround, from runners-up to queens of New York…

I don’t think many saw this coming. In the beginning of the season I said the Magnus/Briarcliff winner in Class B had the best chance to win a state title. It’s something I believed every step of the way, so I wasn’t at all surprised to see the Bears hoist the plaque over the weekend. The fact that they did it with so much company, however, was fascinating.

Every time a score rolled in it seemed like these teams were ahead. Sure, there were harrowing moments (Maria Regina’s tough first quarter on Saturday; Briarcliff’s halftime deficit on Saturday; Shields’ knee injury on Sunday), but each team met these wrong turns with a plan. They turned around, got back headed in the right direction and reached their destination with the gas tank still full.

Here’s a look at my thoughts on each triumph:

GOOD COUNSEL — I don’t know enough about this team, but I know Laura Kennedy could play for me at any time. She was an absolute force in the final, urged, she said, by the memory of losing in the ‘07 final and by the pull of knowing this was her last high school game ever. 27 points and 22 rebounds later, Kennedy and her teammates were rewarded.

HACKLEY — In the NYSAIS tournament Hackley faced the specter of Holy Child, the top seed, awaiting in the final. But after another shocking exit by the Gryphons, who beat Hackley earlier this season, the bracket opened up for the Hornets. After a narrow win over Immaculata in the semis, 41-39, they routed Convent of the Sacred Heart in the championship game. …Unfortunately, we didn’t cover the final in person, a 63-42 win by Hackley, so above is a photo from the game sent in by coach Shelagh Amann.

MARIA REGINA — I saw this team a bunch all season, probably six or seven times. Even though I was in Troy, I could sort of picture everything that happened as colleague Jeff Gold kept funneling texts up the Hudson Valley from Hofstra.

Why? Because the one thing I’ve always told you (and about 1,000 other believers and non-believers out there) is that Maria never gives up. This trait — simple, honest effort — can’t be confused. Everyone plays hard because the Tigers’ coach Tim Pitrulle coaches hard. Quitting is not found in their systems.

For them, this caps a season in which eight seniors had their say. It also caps a run that very well could’ve been made last year until Bianca Kowgios and Erin Riordan were lost for the season due to academic reasons. I know it probably bothered them, but they responded by working it out and coming back strong. Just in time, too. Maria played more in sync than ever and it led to a championship. … Check out the picture. Natalie Catavero striking her typical postgame pose, finding the nearest teammates or coach (this time Kowgios, #21) and jumping into his/her arms. What’s that mean? Well, you didn’t exactly see Shaq carrying Kobe around L.A., did you?

BRIARCLIFF — As I said above, we knew this team had a chance for a championship; we also knew it wouldn’t be easy. The Bears were notoriously fickle on and off the court. To be honest, when times got tough they didn’t always get going.

You could look out there and tell the players didn’t always trust each other. This, of course, is not how gold balls are won and Briarcliff (particularly in ‘07) ended seasons with heartbreak.

I believe something changed in the semis against Woodlands. It was a brutal game to play, close on almost every possession, and the Bears watched it unfold with the fear that one Porsha Postell hot streak would do them in. Suddenly — and it was simply good, hard team defense — the end didn’t come. The gauntlet didn’t drop. They grouped together and won. … Briarcliff has seemed like a team every day since. No one was afraid to hustle and watch someone else reap the reward. In fact, the players seemed willing to pass the baton to a fresh runner and let her finish the race. That teamwork won them the championship.

As Jake wrote in Sunday’s paper, the balance was remarkable for a winning team. No Shenise Johnson or Brittany Shields, just a bunch of understated heroes making understated plays. Maggie Blair (left) won the MVP but this wasn’t a team after that honor…it was after the plaque.

HALDANE — What more can you say about Shields that hasn’t already been said? Nothing probably, but my buddy Rick Carpiniello did a pretty darn good job with his column in Monday’s paper.

Carp wrote about a bunch of stuff I’ve already written over the course of five seasons, but it really made me think — seeing all her triumphs and injuries strung back to back, I realized: Shields has been Haldane’s superhero.

I interviewed Brittany after the game, perhaps — who knows? — for the last time. I told her the first story I wrote about her was in 2004. She started for the Blue Devils in eighth grade and I had taken over a few final four previews from then-colleague Janet Paskin, who was on assignment in Florida. Brittany had asthma and everyone knew it; she inhaled air during games like it contained gold inside.

I wrote that story then. I had great respect for her because she dealt with that, not to mention her starting as an eighth grader on a four-time state champ. Who knew then that I’d see her lead Haldane to a title as a freshman? Dislocate her shoulder and play? Severely sprain her ankle and play? Dislocate her knee and play? Cry in a state final…and play? Unbelievable.

Brittany told me she remembered the asthma story. I told her: “That was a long time ago. I’m an old man now. And you’re an old woman.” Maybe the last part isn’t true, but it sure has been a long run, huh?

Even with such a remarkable player, I never thought Haldane would win states. The Blue Devils had begun to remind me of Yorktown lax, good enough to win Section 1 titles but not good enough to win state championships like in the past. Why not? Well, in my time here they were 1-2 in states. In ‘07, they saw a 14-year reign as owners of the gold ball come to an end. But an unsatisfying recent history disappeared over the final two weeks, right on the heels of a surprisingly-close Class C final.

All of a sudden, players around Shields didn’t look afraid to help her win. They may not have scored all the time, but they didn’t defer as much and their defense was suffocating when it needed to be.

In the championship game on Sunday, I realized Haldane had the makings of a winner: A great star, two secondary scorers capable of making shots (Liz Milner/Avery Zuvic, right), guards to help handle the ball (Scotti King, Emily Marsh), and two disruptive defenders (Kristen Des Marais/Milner). Everyone will remember Shields’ heroics and final MVP turn, but the work of her teammates set this Haldane team apart from others — at least the ones I’d seen.

LINKS — Well, if you got to the end here’s the reward. All the stories we wrote over the weekend, posted so you can read them at your leisure.

Here’s the word on the new home of small-school girls hoops…

Saturday:

Briarcliff 37, Seton Catholic 33

Maggie Blair makes quiet impact 

Sunday:

Maria Regina 56, Nardin Academy 42 

Briarcliff 49, Hoosic Valley 43 

Briarcliff’s balance helps win title
Monday:

Haldane 46, Madrid-Waddington 36

Defense leads Blue Devils to title

Column: Shields completes her legacy

Also, you can find video from the whole weekend (Maria Regina, Briarcliff and Haldane) at this link here.

Thanks to Matt Brown, Frank Becerra and Mike Roy for the photos and videos. Those guys work harder than ever now and deserve a shout out.

I hope I offer you a lot. Analysis. Rankings. Game recaps. Award-winners. But I have never offered sheer cash…until now.

If you want to win $10,000, join our March Madness bracket challenge at LoHud.com/brackets. Here’s how it works: Go to the site and fill out your bracket. If you fill out a perfect bracket — the grand dream of all amateur bracketologists out there — you will win $10,000. That’s it. That’s all it takes.

For the record, my final four looks like this: UNC, UCLA, Memphis, and Georgetown. UCLA beats Georgetown to win and Kevin “Good Vibrations” Love is the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He will then go on to be ignored by NBA scouts because he doesn’t jump high…and become an NBA all-star regardless.

Shields is the MVP, finishing with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Emily Marsh won the sportsmanship award. Zuvic also won all-tournament.

3:21: After a bunch of free throws the clock finally runs out. Haldane is the state champion of Class C, 46-36. What a capper for Shields. I don’t think there will be a hard choice for MVP.

3:14: Less than a minute to go here. Haldane up 45-33. I was hoping the insurmountable lead would shut up the obnoxious Madrid fans behind me. No such luck.

3:10: We’ve hit the two-minutes-to-go mark. This one’s under control, 41-32. Barring a miracle it’s over.

3:05: A steal and a baseline score by Kristen Des Marais have Haldane up 39-27 with 3:40 left.

3:01: With 5:30 left the lead is up to double digits. Shields hit one of her spinning layups for a 37-26 advantage. Considering Madrid’s struggles, it’ll be tough to come back.

3:00: Milner runs a smart 2-on-1 break where she looks off the defender by staring at Emily Marsh before laying it in herself.

2:57: Josh points out that Madrid had three field goals in the last 18 minutes. That is…how you say?…not so good.

2:53: At the end of three it’s still 33-26. One quarter to go for a state title. By the way, there’s a photo of Shields below right after her injury. Thanks to photographer Matt Brown for that.

2:51: Madrid’s missed about 48 straight shots in their last couple of possessions. There are 38 seconds left and it’s still 33-26 haldane.

2:44: Sweet coast-to-coast through traffic by Shields. She’s such a good dribbler for her size. 31-26 Haldane with 4:15 left.

2:41: King hits a 3 on a Shields kickout, then nearly gets the steal when she sneaks up on a Yellowjacket from behind. Two minutes in it’s 29-25.

2:37: Second half is about to start. The halftime leader in all three categories is Shields, who’s actually having one of her quieter games. She’s got 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

2:27: Stephanie Lancto’s free throw with four seconds left brings the Yellowjackets within two at 24-22. That’s where it’ll stay at halftime.

2:23: She’s already back at the scorer’s table as Liz Milner shoots free throws. It’s 24-21 Haldane with 47 seconds left.

2:22: She stays out anyway.

2:20: Shields gets a steal but slips while heading the other way. She grabs her knee in pain — the same one she hyperextended against Greeley. But when Haskins tries to sub for her she waves him off so he calls timeout instead.

2:18: Two Shields foul shots puts Haldane up 23-19 with 1:58 left. Kenny Haskins wants timeout.

2:12: Crystal Mounthorp hit a corner 3 that Madrid needed in the worst way. Shields answered with a three-point play, so Haldane leads 21-17 with 3:34 left in the half.

2:09: By the way, the turnover streak ended at eight.

2:07: Avery Zuvic has consecutive baskets, the last being a fast break pass from Shields, to finally give Haldane the lead, 14-13. They’ve certainly been working hard enough.

2:05: Remember what I said about Madrid having as many points through three minutes as Cooperstown did through nine? Well nine minutes have gone by and Madrid is stuck on 13. It’s seven straight turnovers and counting. The last few haven’t even been a result of teh press. Just active hands by the Blue Devils. Madrid still leads, though, 13-10.

2:02: Make that five straight Yellowjacket turnovers. After one quarter it’s still 13-9.

2:00: Haldane unveils a press and so far its working beautifully. It’s forced four straight turnovers. Now if it can just generate some offense. It’s 13-9 Haldane with 10 seconds to go in the first quarter.

1:55: Haldane’s been forced into a lot of long jumpers, most by Scotti King. King hit a 3 early but everyone’s been misfiring since. With 2:23 left it’s 13-5 Madrid.

1:51: Three minutes in and Madrid already has as many points as Cooperstown had through nine minutes yesterday. It’s 9-5 Madrid.

1:48: Madrid has Haldane back on its heels a little bit by pushing the ball off every miss, even when it doesn’t have numbers. Let’s see if the Blue Devils compensate by having a defender hang farther back.

We’re about to tip off here at HVCC. It’s the final game of championship weekend. Hammond won the D championship earlier in the afternoon. Haldane looks pretty loose, but I guarantee the seniors are focused. Let’s see if Brittany Shields can cap her spectacular career with a state title.

As I was leaving the court area today with the Haldane crowd I heard an interesting exchange. It was between a man and woman, Haldane supporters both. The Blue Devils had just beaten the stuffing out of Cooperstown 63-49. Here’s the gist of the exchange.

Man: Did you hear what they said about us in the paper, how we were slow? Not bad for a team that’s slow.
Woman: Fat and slow.
Man: That’s what they said?
Woman: Yea, they said we were fat and slow.

To clarify, no one on Coopertown called Haldane fat. At least not to The Freeman Journal, which is the paper that carried the players’ comments. But the woman said it like she’s heard it out of their mouths herself.

It made me understand how bulletin board material is so effective. Teams take a small printed insult and think about it over and over. They repeat it to each other and build themselves up into a lather. By the time the game comes they think they got called fat and scrubby and their mothers’ purity was insulted. What seems to outsiders like not-such-a-big-deal takes on a life of its own in the locker room.

It’s a great motivational tool. And it obviously worked for Haldane.

Here’s what I can tell you about Madrid-Waddington:
— They beat Avon 42-35 today in the Class C semifinals.
— They are 21-5.
— They are from the hinterland, not too far south of Ottawa. Check this map. … And people from Westchester think Cold Spring is rural?
— Their leading scorer is Jenn Curley, a 5-foot-8 guard. She had 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the semis to go along with 11 boards and four steals. Their next best players are Abbey Schoen, a 5-foot-9 guard, and Stephanie Lancto, a 5-foot-10 forward. Schoen had a tough game in the semis. She scored just four points and fouled out.
— They are a guard-oriented team. Lancto is the only inside presence. Their other best players are all guards: Curley, Schoen and Cierra Wells.
— Since we’re located pretty far from the St. Lawrence basin, the only comparable team I can connect Madrid-Waddington to is Franklin Academy, the newly-minted Class A state champions. Franklin Academy beat M-W by 26..although that’s hardly anything to hang their heads about.