Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Report, I’m Keith Harrington.

Hartford Sweeps Flying Forts in Class D Semifinals

It was only fitting that Madison Whaley closed it out. The Hartford junior finished the breakout game of her career with a kill down the line to complete the Tanager’s 3-0 sweep of Fort Edward and propel her team to a spot in the Section II Class D championship game with a semifinal victory at Hudson Falls High School.

Set scores were 25-20, 25-15, 25-22.

The win avengers a 3-0 loss to the Flying Forts after Hartford had defeated them early in the season.

“Maddie Whaley had the best game of her career,” Hartford coach Wendy Harrington said. “blocking, hitting, serving, everything.”

Fort Edward jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set but a service run by Whaley shafted the momentum as the Tanagers took an 8-7 lead. Whaley was also a menace for the Flying Forts at the net all night.

In the second set Hartford went on a 6-1 run to pull away and grab the 2-0 edge.

The Flying Forts seemed destined to extend the match in the third with a gritty effort. Fort Edward led 20-19, but Hartford was not to be denied as they outscored the Flying Forts the rest of the way to set up Whaley’s parting shot.

Whaley finished with nine points, five kills and five blocks.

Raeghan Liebig had 11 digs, eight kills and seven service points. Cassie Wade also contributed 11 digs and 18 assists. Cailin Severance added 14 digs, and McKenzie Johnson had seven kills for Hartford.

Natalie Durkee paced the Flying Forts with four kills, 15 assists, six digs and five points. Gabby Durkee added seven kills and seven digs. Haley Saunders finished with 16 digs, six points and three kills.

No. 2 Hartford is now 15-5 and will face top-seeded Lake George in the final on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Saratoga High School. It will be the Tanagers’ first title match appearance since 2016.

Fort Edward who entered as the No. 3 seed finishes 13-4.

Lake George Advances to Class D Final

Top seeded Lake George punched their ticket to the Section II Class D volleyball final with a 3-0 win over Mekeel Christian.

Set scores were 25-16, 25-19, 25-19.

The Lakers got eight kills apiece from Minnear and Evie Burke, who also added 12 digs, two aces and nine points. Josie Duers finished with three aces, eight points and 13 digs, and Shannon Briggs had 16 assists.

Fort Ann Moves on to State Final Four

Section II girls soccer champion Fort Advanced to the state final four on Wednesday with a 4-0 win victory over Livingston Manner in a Class D regional final match at Mechanicville.

Olivia Winchell, Savannah Aratare, Lillian Trzaskos and Cherokie Steves scored goals to lead the Cardinals.

Fort Ann scored on a Winchell penalty kick two minutes in to the contest to lead 1-0.

Steves converted a helper from Aratare to make it 2-0 at the break.

Trzaskos and Aratare scored goals less than two minutes apart in the second half to ice it, literally on a cold night for the Cardinals.

Baylee Wright had three saves in goal for Fort Ann to earn the shutout.

Fort Ann is now 13-4-2 and will play Edmeston or Cincinnatus at Homer High School at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 11th in the semifinals.