Thirty-five.
That's the number of first-half points the Maple Grove Red Dragons have scored in their previous two basketball playoff games combined.
In both cases - in wins over Sherman and Houghton Academy - their defense remained stout and foul-plagued Chris Secky returned to action after intermission to put the game out of reach.
But the stakes will be even higher when the third-ranked Red Dragons (14-8) take the floor for Friday's 11:45 a.m. New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinal at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Suffice it to say, another stumble out of the blocks against top-ranked and unbeaten New York Mills of Section 3 could very well mean a short stay for Maple Grove in the North Country.
''We've had two games in a row like that,'' Secky said. ''It's the best four teams in the state there and if you play one bad half and start off poorly it's going to hurt you. ... It's so important to start out strong.''
The Red Dragons, who played an independent regular-season schedule to prepare themselves for this time of year, appear to have their work cut out for them.
The Marauders are 23-0 and won their 18 regular-season games by an average of 30 points. In the postseason, they breezed past the Syracuse Academy of Science, 75-52, for the Section 3 title and then routed defending state champion South Kortright, 68-35, in the Central Regional championship. Also as impressive is New York Mills' defense, which is yielding just 37.5 points per game, and its size.
Junior forward Fred Russ is 6-foot-5, sophomore center Matt Welch is 6-8 and reserve forward Jeff Albright is 6-4.
''They're big, quick and balanced,'' Maple Grove coach Curt Fischer said. ''They don't have anybody that pours down a ton of points consistently, but they have a bunch of different scorers. They run, from what I understand, and with their size they get the ball out as quickly as they can and then just go.''
Russ, 43 points shy of 1,000 for his career, is averaging 13.8 points and 11 rebounds, and leading the team in assists (70) and steals (63). Welch averages 10.5 points and leads the team in blocks with 61.
Seniors Jeremy Miller (11.3 ppg), Edgardo Colon (7 ppg), Matt Dziekan (7 ppg) and Ed Schulze make up the backcourt. They're coached by Mike Adey, who has 438 wins in his 29-year career at Rome Catholic High, New Hartford and New York Mills.
''We obviously know they're huge and their guards are quick, too,'' said Secky, who was the state Class C Player of the Year in 2008 and the state Class D co-Player of the Year in 2009. ''When you have big guys and you're quick you have to be a pretty darn good team.''
The Red Dragons, who are making their fifth trip to the Final Four, have won state titles in 1995 and 2008. Fischer was an assistant coach in 1995 and 1996 in their first two trips to Glens Falls before becoming the head coach in 2003. In seven seasons, he has compiled a 122-45 record (.731).
See DRAGONS, Page B-2
From Page B-1
''Our kids work hard,'' he said. ''They're dedicated in the offseason and what they're willing to give pays back to them.''
Secky, who is 13th on the all-time Western New York scoring list with 2,020 points, leads Maple Grove in scoring (21 ppg), rebounding (8.9 rpg), assists (6.0 apg) and steals (4.0 spg). Seniors Kevin McElrath, Matt Fox and Wil Nelson, juniors Jordan Saxton, Ryan Kibbe, Gage Milliman and Connor Meekins, and sophomores Alex Grace and Skylar Liddell round out a deep rotation.
But there's little doubt that this is Secky's team, and the Red Dragons will look to their leader on the state's biggest stage. Last year, Maple Grove lost to Greenport of Section 11 in overtime in the state semifinals.
''I'm going to come in with a totally different attitude,'' Secky said. ''It's going to be all smiles when we get to the hotel, but when we get to the arena it will be all business.''
The winner advances to the championship game at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against either No. 5 Germantown of Section 2 or No. 2 Coleman Catholic of Section 9.
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Friday: The Clymer Lady Pirates prepare for their trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.
