2020/2021 LEGACY TEAM
2001-02 GIRLS BASKETBALL (26-1)
NYS CLASS C FINALISTS (26-1 NYS C Finalist)

It may seem unfair to start the story of a Legacy team by telling of its only defeat...after all, the Sidney girls had already established a school record for most wins in a season - boys or girls - with 26 before the loss. However after fighting back from a quick 10-0 deficit in the NYS Class C finals versus Vooheesville only to lose by three, The Lady Warriors actually pulled off a last victory in this incredible season.

They were chosen among all 16 teams at Hudson Valley C by the officials for the Overall Team Sportsmanship Award. Really? After a loss in the FINALS?

Yes, folks, that's true. The manner in which the opposing Blackbirds sped out to the early lead was exactly how Sidney had done during 25 of their first 26 wins.

They swept two pre-season tournaments, one against top STAC teams, the other against perennial local powers. The ONLY close game, a Saturday night special hosting Delhi, called for late-game defensive heroics to force overtime and earn a tough win. Otherwise, the template was the same: apply a devastating zone press and rely on team offense with all members contributing to put the game away.

Five miles away sat the Bobcats of B-G, also considered a top C school in the state, But what does it say about the Warriors when, in all three encounters (the last being the Section 4 finals), they outscored B-G by an average of almost 27 points and were the only three losses for the Bobcats?

Coaching was also a team effort. Loraine (Butcher) Flyzik utilized the brain power of assistant John Silvernail and her JV coach Don Pierce to skillfully create that zone press as well as an uptempo offense. Moreover, her pro-active stance where everyone played and contributed helped provide a terrific sense of team unity.

Packed gyms, constant commentary of "best ever" by fans, and an enormous amount of community support will be remembered just as much as any key basket, intercepted pass, or powerful rebound, You'll see the scores above....

The mark of this Legacy Team upon their induction is that one loss, and how