Sometimes the right mix of players come together at the right time for a program. And when that happens history can be made. For these two programs at number three, history seemed like it was destiny as soon as they got together.
3. Jamesville-DeWitt Girls Basketball
When it comes to Red Rams basketball, the McKenney-led boys teams of the 2000s get most of the publicity, and it’s well deserved, but when it comes to J-D hoops since 2010, it’s the girls that stocked the trophy case.
Rob Siechen had his squad finely tuned, winning eight-straight section three titles from 2012-19. The Red Rams also became a perennial state power, capturing three state championships from 2016-18.
That last state title was made even more special with the Federation crown that followed. Meg Hair, Jamie Boeheim and Kasey Vaughan were the leaders of those Red Rams teams, but it was the heroics of then-freshman Momo LaClair who hit the game-winning shot in the Federation finals.
As great as this run was, it’s almost hard to believe that it could have been even better. Siechen’s group won those three-straight state titles, but almost made it five in a row, losing in the state championship game in 2014 and 2015.
This week, Siechen was announced as the new head coach of the Cicero-North Syracuse girls basketball program. It was a difficult decision but Siechen, who's been a teacher at C-NS for 20 years, tells Spectrum News that a main reason for the move was his son, who plays for the C-NS boys program.
C-NS checked in at number four in our countdown. Eric Smith, the longtime head coach of the Northstars, left the program to spend more time with family.
J-D has accomplished what few other programs in the entire state have ever accomplished, making them an easy selection as a top three program.
J-D’s Resume
- Three Straight NYS Championships (2016-18)
- 2018 NYS Federation Championship
- Five Straight Appearances in the NYSPHSAA Class B Finals (2014-18)
- Eight Straight Section Three Titles (2012-19)
3. Maine-Endwell Football
The M-E football team adopted the slogan of "This is Sparta!" from the movie "300," and their legendary streak of 62 consecutive wins is the longest in New York State history.
From 2011 to 2015, the Spartans were unbeatable. Games seemed like they were pretty much over after the first quarter. Those M-E teams built three-and four-score leads before the other teams knew what hit them. Other teams knew the game was over before it began.
Take the 2012 team, for example: Those Spartans put up 669 points that season. That’s an average of 51.5 points per game. They did so while holding their opponents to just 10.1 PPG.
Imagine being a senior for the 2014 team. You went your entire career without losing a single football game.
It’s so crazy that ESPN ended up making a documentary about the program. It just so happens that the crew was there as the streak was coming to an end in 2015.
As impressive as the 62-game winning streak is, it’s not the only feather in M-E’s cap.
Of their four straight state titles from 2011-14, the Spartans managed to win in multiple classes. They began their streak in Class A and finished with three straight Class B state titles.
The four straight state championships are the most in NYSPHSAA history. With that kind of resume you might be asking yourself, "how is M-E not number one?"
Good question.
M-E’s Resume
- 62-Game Winning Streak from 2011-15 (Most in NYS History)
- Four-Straight State Championships (2011-15)
- Five State Championships in Spectrum News Era
- Seven Section IV Titles in SN Era
