By Terrence Echols
Staff Writer
The Jamesville-Dewitt High School Varsity Girls Basketball team has been a top program in the Central New York area for the past few years. The Lady Red Rams have won four straight sectional titles and have appeared in the state class A state championship the past two years. These girls have been so successful due to the leadership of talented players and a great head coach, which have now been recognized as CNY’s best.
Senior Maddy Frank, junior Carly O’Hern and freshman Meg Hair were all selected for the 2014-2015 All-CNY Girls Basketball team, which is comprised of all-stars and the most successful coach throughout the section. “No more than one girl has been selected in the past so having three was a huge accomplishment,” said Head Coach Rob Siechen. The girls are coming off of a great season with a 21-6 record, a sectional championship and a trip to the state championship game where they fell to Williamsville South 39-48.
Frank has been a part of the J-DHS squad for all four years of their consecutive sectional championships. This is her second year being honored as a member of the All-CNY team. Frank’s stats, although impressive do not tell the whole story of her game. “My stats do not define my game. I feel like I was the glue of the team, I did whatever was needed to help us win,” said Frank. Her hard work paid off as she and fellow senior Alyssa Robens led the Lady Rams to the past two state championship games. “I wish Alyssa could’ve also been selected,” said Frank who believes her friend and teammate deserved the honor as well. Frank said she had a lot of fun and learned a lot with the squad and is very thankful for her coaches and teammates that have helped her for the past four years in the program. She has recently decided to continue her career in college at SUNY Oneonta College.
O’Hern just finished her third year as a member of the varsity team. “It was an honor to be recognized with the team (for All-CNY),” said O’Hern. She had a great junior campaign as she finished second on the team in points. She is known for her deadeye accuracy when shooting three pointers. Her lethal three point shooting skills became known around the area after her impressive performance in J-D’s 41-51 comeback victory over rival CBA on senior night. O’Hern made seven threes including six in a row at one point that led the Lady Rams to victory. “The best part of the year was when we beat CBA on senior night,” said O’Hern. O’Hern enjoyed her junior season and is poised for more success as a senior next year. As for college, she has yet to make any decisions but has a few schools that have interest in her skills.
Hair has excelled on varsity. She led the Red-Rams in points this year. This is her second year as a member of the varsity squad. She has the potential to do what few athletes have done in the syracuse area which is to be selected as a member of ALL-CNY for all four years of her high school career. “It feels amazing (to be selected),” said Hair. Even though she has a few months to relax, Hair chooses to stay active and focused on next season. She plays AAU basketball for the Syracuse Nets organization and her expectations for next year is to win the sectional championship and make states again. Hair is proud of her team and said her team “Did a lot of things well this year.” Local teams are aware of her and know that she will be around next year, the year after that, and the year after that.
Coach Siechen has been the coach of the Vasity Girls Basketball team for about 10 years. He is proud of the three girls selected saying they had “innate basketball ability, but also had to have some internal motivation to work on their game while most other athletes are hanging out with friends or watching TV.” He’s also proud of the entire team because even though Frank, O’Hern and Hair recieved some individual accolades, he thinks the rest of the team put in a similar amount of work to improve their skills. He is honored to be the coach of the year but says he never would have acheived the honor without the amazing group of girls he has working for him everyday.