Modest Scotia guard is tough on her opponents
By JAMES ALLEN, Staff writer
Published 11:35 p.m., Saturday, December 3, 2011

SCOTIA — Asking Cassie Broadhead to talk about her basketball exploits is not an easy proposition, but covering the Scotia junior guard may be the more daunting task.

Broadhead, who is beginning her fourth varsity season with the Tartans, has already provided Brigham Young University coach Jeff Judkins her oral commitment to compete for the Cougars in the 2013-14 season. BYU went 25-9 in 2010-11.

"I'm very relieved. It was so stressful. It is nice to know your future is already set," Broadhead said. "My sisters are out there in Utah and so are so many family members. It is a very nice campus."

Just a junior, Broadhead opened her season Friday night with a game-high 22 points in a 54-31 nonleague victory at Stillwater. That pushed Broadhead's career total to 1,001 points. She is on pace to become one of the top 20 scorers in Section II girls' basketball history. Read More...

Tags: Cassie Broadhead Lashana Tolliver Alyssia Marsal Sydney Rosales

The Sparks are proud to announce that Cassie Broadhead will be achieving her dream by heading to Division I Brigham Young University. She has been offered a full scholarship to play basketball which she has verbally accepted. The 5'8" point guard from Scotia has led her high school in scoring and assists for the last two years. She has been a varsity player since the 8th grade. She is also a two time News Channel 13 All-Star.

Broadhead has had an outstanding career with the Sparks. She's played on two National top ten teams. She was elected a team captain and finished second on the team in scoring, assists and steals. Her desire, competitiveness and leadership were noticed by numerous D-1 coaches.

Although Cassie has  played basketball since she could walk, she has more than that going for her. She has not announced a major yet but she is interested in animal husbandry. Currently she cares for horses, cows and chickens on the family farm. Cassie is also very active in her church, Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

What is clear is that Cassie will bring all of her considerable skills and talents to work for BYU and whatever she decides to do.

See more about Cassie by visiting CBS 6 Story

Tags: Cassie Broadhead Brigham Young

The Saratoga Sparks 15 Orange team once again competed at the National AAU Championships and like last year finished in the top 10. The Sparks compiled a 5-2 record while coming first in their pool and 9th in the tournament. In spite of losing their first game by a point to the Cardinal Elite, the Sparks went on to beat both the Georgia and Kentucky State Champions to win their pool. The Sparks then went on to the Championship Round and unfortunately lost the opening game to the Alabama State Champions before reeling off three victories against the Bay State Jaguars, Love Elite the Maryland Champs and the Cardinal Elite.

The Sparks did this while averaging over 61 points a game.  The Sparks were led in scoring by Colonie's Sydnie Rosales with 88 points and Scotia's Cassie Broadhead with 83. The Sparks were led in rebounds by Watervliet's Lashana Tolliver and Mikayla Deguire. Cassie also lead the team in assists with Bethlehem's Bridget Murphy a close second.

Because this was a live Division 1 viewing period Coach Mingione has received many calls from D-1 coaches about many players on the team.  The coaches reported being very impressed not only with individual players but also with the team oriented approach of the players.

The team will continue its schedule with two Fall Tournaments during D-1 viewing period in October.

Tags: Sydney Rosales Cassie Broadhead Lashana Tolliver Mikayla Dequire Bridget Murphy

The Foothills Council released the names of their girls basketball all-stars and three Saratoga Sparks received honors. The Organization is very proud of their individual achievements this past season and would like to congratulate each of the players and their families on their selections.

Sophomore Cassie Broadhead of Scotia High School was named league MVP while senior center Danielle Conley and senior guard Kaila Sanboeuf each received notice. Conley was selected to the First Team while Sanboeuf received honorable mention. All three of these talented young ladies were teammates last season with Scotia High School and they lead the Tartans to a near perfect 19-1 record.

Once again, the organization would like to congratulate each of the players selected, we are all looking forward to hearing more about their accomplishments during the upcoming AAU season and within the college ranks.

Tags: Cassie Broadhead Danielle Conley Kalia Sanboeuf

The Saratoga Sparks organization would like to recognized the efforts Kalia Sanboeuf, Danielle Conley and Cassie Broadhead who were all featured in an article this week by the Schenectady Gazette. If you subscribe to the Gazette you can enjoy the story.

The trio of Sparks have lead the 7th ranked Class A Tartans to a 12-0 start during the 2010-2011 campaign. Sanboeuf and Broadhead led the Tartans with five steals apiece, and Danielle Conley had four of Scotia-Glenville's six blocked shots. Their efforts helped the Tartans pin down the South Glens Falls Bulldogs for a second time, following a 49-31 season-opening triumph over their longtime rival.

Tags: Cassie Broadhead Danielle Beauchamp Kalia Sanboeuf

Broadhead, Conley and Janson have Scotia thinking Class A title
By JAMES ALLEN Staff Writer

SCOTIA -- Cassie Broadhead earned the Foothills Council Most Valuable Player award as a freshman guard in 2010, and naturally that meant she was going to earn even more attention from opponents this season.

Broadhead is not scoring as much as she did during the 2009-10 campaign, but it has very little to do with any new defensive scheme or the added attention she now receives. It has everything to do with the improved play of senior center Danielle Conley and junior guard Sarah Janson. "The last few years, we were a strong team. I think our experience is helping us as Sarah, Cassie and myself are all in our third year," Conley said.

"Our teamwork has really stepped up this year. Everyone is so unselfish," Broadhead said. "Our main goal is to win. One of the easiest and best ways to do that is pass the ball."

The Tartans (11-0, 7-0) lead the Foothills Council standings and are ranked No. 8 in the state Class A poll.

Broadhead is on pace to score her 1,000th career point before the end of the season. She leads the team with averages of 16.5 points and 4.6 assists per game. Broadhead is also averaging 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 steals per outing.
Read More...

Tags: Danielle Conley Cassie Broadhead

Sophomore center is emerging as a top player for Watervliet
By JAMES ALLEN Staff Writer
Published: 03:17 a.m., Thursday, January 6, 2011

WATERVLIET -- Lashana Tolliver has been a vital part of two Section II girls' basketball championship basketball teams at Watervliet, yet the talented 6-foot-1 sophomore center was never as committed to the team as she is this season.

"My first two years, I was immature and I wasn't really focused on basketball. I wanted to hang out with my friends and I didn't want to be in practice," Tolliver said. "Now every day, I'm ready to be in practice. I'm doing all my work in school just thinking about practice."

"It is just maturity. That is all it is," Watervliet coach Gordie Johnson said. "She is still only a sophomore playing on the varsity basketball team. She was a big part of what we did the last two years, but she didn't always understand she needed to work every single minute. Now she does. When she comes in here, she works every single minute."

Hard work first paid off over the summer for Tolliver, who played along with Watervliet sophomore guard Ailayia Demand on the Saratoga Sparks' squad that finished sixth in the country in July at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla.

Read More...

Tags: Lashana Tolliver Sydney Rosales Jackie Welch Cassie Broadhead Kelsey Cowell

The Saratoga Sparks 14U basketball team took sixth place in the 2010 AAU Girls Basketball National Championship Tournament held July 6-10 at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. The team is comprised of Section II freshmen players who finished their regular AAU season undefeated with 30 wins. At the National Tournament, the Sparks were 5 and 3 against a field of 40 of the best teams in the United States. The Sparks are the first local team in recent memory to finish this high in the AAU National Championship Tournament. The Sparks advanced all the way to the Elite Eight round.

Read More...

Tags: Nationals Ailaiya Demand Cassie Broadhead Sydney Rosales AAU Girls Basketball National Championship

Gym Ray Challenge Website: The Saratoga Sparks 14-under division team came to Sunday's games at the GymRat Challenge tournament without its head coach as Tony Mingione missed the event for a family function, and without one of its better players, whose opts not to play in Sunday games due to religious reasons.

But those seeming handicaps did nothing to derail the championship run of the Saratoga Sparks, who used strong overall team play and a well-designed strategy to advance to Sunday night's championship contest of the 6th annual GymRat CHALLENGE for girls where it earned a 56-40 victory over the New York Gauchos. Read More...

Tags: GymRats Alyx Gleason Sydney Rosales Cassie Broadhead Jackie Welch

Gym Ray Challenge Website: Congratulations to Sydnie Rosales (not pictured) for being named the 2010 Most Valuable GymRat. She brought calm to the court, particularly against a pressing defense applied by the New York Gauchos in the event's championship game. Her smooth play was on display here. She is good in transition, advancing the ball very well. Has exceptional range, even beyond the 3-point stripe.

Coming off an injury plagued season at Colonie, but looks to be back to full health. Showed an ability to dominate games when she plays with intensity. Her size and ability she exhibits marks her a potential future Division I recruit. Read More...

Tags: Mary Kate Cusack Allayia Demand Cassie Broadhead