Saratoga's Dolly Cairns drives to the hoop guarded by Shenendehowa's Claire Drum during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns drives to the hoop guarded by Shenendehowa's Claire Drum during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Kerry Flaherty goes up for a shot during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Kerry Flaherty goes up for a shot during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns drives to the hoop during a basketball game against Shenendehowa's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns drives to the hoop during a basketball game against Shenendehowa's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Ashley Rutz, right, is guarded by Shenendehowa's Claire Drum as she drive to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Ashley Rutz, right, is guarded by Shenendehowa's Claire Drum as she drive to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns is guarded by Shenendehowa's Simone Walker as she drive to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns is guarded by Shenendehowa's Simone Walker as she drive to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Amanda McGinn, left, and Shenendehowa's Simone Walker battle for the ball during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Amanda McGinn, left, and Shenendehowa's Simone Walker battle for the ball during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Shenendehowa's Alexandra Tudor drives to the basket during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Shenendehowa's Alexandra Tudor drives to the basket during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Shenendehowa fans cheer during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Shenendehowa fans cheer during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Briann Barringer is guarded by Shenendehowa's Simone Walker as she drives to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Briann Barringer is guarded by Shenendehowa's Simone Walker as she drives to the hoop during a basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns makes one of her many three pointers during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns makes one of her many three pointers during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga fans cheer during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga fans cheer during a basketball game against Saratoga's on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns makes one of her many three pointers during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Saratoga's Dolly Cairns makes one of her many three pointers during a basketball game against Shenendehowa on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren
Saratoga girls' basketball defeats Shenendehowa
Saratoga Springs
Catherine Cairns had just six points last week in a Suburban Council girls' basketball victory over Schenectady. Tuesday night, Shenendehowa got a full dose of the sophomore sensation known as Dolly.
After 32 minutes of action, it was truly "Hello Dolly."
Cairns delivered 33 points, including six 3-pointers, to help propel the Blue Streaks to a 62-52 victory over the Plainsmen, a squad with several keys members returning from a team that reached the 2017 Class AA state final.
"We just came out from the start ready to play and everyone was on their game and hitting their shots," Cairns said.
"Over the past couple of years, our gap with them has gotten smaller and smaller," Saratoga coach Robin Chudy said. "I said to the girls before we went out there, 'This is it. This is the year.' This is what all of the girls have wanted to do."
"They're our biggest rival, so it felt great to finally come out and beat them," Saratoga senior forward Briann Barringer said. "We've come close before. Finally, we were able to finish it off with a win."
Saratoga (2-0 overall, 2-0 league) overcame a first quarter in which it turned over the ball six times by shooting exceptionally well from the field. The Blue Streaks connected on 13 of 23 shots during the first half to establish a 34-25 advantage.
"Dolly came out on fire and, against my better judgment, we came out in a zone because it worked against them last year," Shenendehowa coach Joe Murphy said. "I don't think she felt any pressure all night. She is a gamer."
Saratoga opened up a 47-34 edge on Cairns' sixth 3-pointer of the evening.
"I was open and I took my shots. Fortunately, they went in," Cairns said.
The Blue Streaks went cold in the later stages of the third quarter and Shenendehowa (2-1, 2-1), which switched to man-to-man defense after the first quarter, stormed back and pulled within 47-44 entering the fourth quarter.
But the Plainsmen would draw no closer as they opened the fourth quarter missing seven straight shots — including four from point-blank range. Shenendehowa ultimately could not overcome shooting 19-for-61 from the field.
"They played defense on us. We never got comfortable," Murphy said.
Saratoga junior guard Kerry Flaherty added to the team's total of 11 3-pointers by draining four in a 16-point performance.
Barringer's all-around play proved vital to the win.
"She is great. She gets all the boards and does all the dirty work for us," Carins said. "She lets us guards get our shots up."
"Her outright hustle from beginning to end — half the things she does (don't) show up in the statistics — is amazing," Chudy said. "You'll look up and she has 15 or 16 boards a night. It is amazing. She keeps us in the game every night."
"I have always been a fan of Bri," Murphy said. "She is one of those kids that does all the little things that don't show up in the box score."
Shenendehowa senior point guard Cam Tooley scored 13 points and senior guard Alexandra Tudor added 11 points.
Chudy said it meant a great deal seeing her five seniors finally experience a victory against the Plainsmen.
"This is, honestly, amazing for our seniors going out because of our hard-working seniors are getting rebounds for us and putting putbacks in," Chudy said.
"This is everything for us," Barringer said. "We've been playing together for so long. All we have ever wanted is to beat Shen. We finally did it."
jallen@timesunion.com • 518-454-5062 • @TUSidelines
http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/Saratoga-girls-basketball-defeats-Shenendehowa-12429366.php
