Girls improve as season draws to a close

The Whitehall girls’ basketball team finished its season with three consecutive home games. Amber Eggleston pressures Hadley's Kaitlin Milligan

Last Tuesday, the girls hosted Spa Catholic (6-11), in a non-league game that was rescheduled from Monday, due to snow.

A bad first half doomed the Railroaders, who trailed 35-4 at halftime. Whitehall played much better in the second half, outscoring Spa Catholic 10-5 in the third and staying within three points of Spa Catholic in the fourth quarter.

Caity Sandford led the way offensively for the Railroaders, with 12 points. Brooke Paddock was the only other Railroader to hit more than one shot, as she added five points.

The following day, Whitehall hosted the undefeated, league champion Fort Edward Flying Forts.

Although the Forts defeated Whitehall 62-19, it was closer than when the two teams faced off in Fort Edward in January.

The Railroaders kept the game 19 points closer than the first time around. During the first game, Fort Edward beat Whitehall by 62 points, this time the Railroaders cut that deficit to 43.

Mallory Keough, who recently returned from a wrist injury, led the way for Whitehall in this game, with seven points. Beth Jones added five for the Railroaders.

The Forts were led by Amelia Taylor, who had a game high 19 points and Lexi Thomas chipped in with 14.

Whitehall’s best quarter was the fourth, where the Railroaders were only outscored 13-10.

The Fort Edward win gave the Forts a perfect regular season record (16-0, 18-0).

In a cross-over game on Friday, Whitehall had one last crack at ending the season with a win. The Railroaders were topped 35-24 by Hadley-Luzerne, in a game that was close throughout.

When the two teams played at Hadley-Luzerne earlier this season, the Eagles beat the Railroaders behind a dominant second quarter; this time it was the fourth quarter that did the trick for the Eagles.

Hadley-Luzerne (5-14) outscored Whitehall by a 12-6 tally in the fourth quarter to pull away. Whitehall trailed by only five points entering the final quarter.

Brooke Paddock led the way for Whitehall with six points, Sandford added five and Jones recorded four.
Hadley-Luzerne was led by Kaitlin Milligan, who had 15 points. Tiffany Locke added 11 for the Eagles.

Although Whitehall would ultimately lose to both Hadley-Luzerne and Fort Edward, the Railroaders made marked improvements compared to the first time against each team.

Whitehall finishes the season with a record of 1-18.