EAST GREENBUSH - Sneakers were screeching, arms were active and turnovers were tallying up at an alarming rate Friday night. Every time the Columbia girls' basketball team tossed a pass to the wing, the 2-3 zone from Shenendehowa instantly confounded the Blue Devils. By the time the first quarter ended, between two Suburban Council squads that entered the game with identical 14-2 records, the contest was essentially over.
Shenendehowa, ranked No. 10 in Class AAA, opened up a 29-point cushion after one quarter and cruised to a 73-41 road victory.
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Columbia (14-3 overall, 8-2 league) had as many turnovers as it did shot attempts during the first quarter, as the visitors broke out to establish a commanding 31-2 advantage through eight minutes of action. The Blue Devils finished with 24 turnovers.
"We have been working a lot on that in practice. It has been a main focus of ours," Shenendehowa senior point guard Mya Parker said of the zone trap. "We have worked on trapping hard. I am really proud of our team. We're working trapping, trapping, and trapping. Last year, we would let down in the second half. We're not doing that this year."
Shenendehowa senior Mya Parker looks for an opening during a game against Columbia on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in East Greenbush, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)"In practice, we worked on not only being aggressive (in the trap), but also talking," Shenendehowa senior guard Kate Milham said. "We got so many deflections and turnovers, which helped us get out on the break. Our preparation helped things really go well."
Shenendehowa (15-2, 8-2) dropped its first two contests this season to fellow Class AAA-ranked squads Shaker and Colonie. Friday's triumph pushed the team's winning streak up to 15 straight games.
"I am very pleased," Shenendehowa coach Joe Murphy said. "The last few years, I really feel like we played our best basketball in December. This is the first year we have gotten better as the season has progressed. Obviously, we started off with Shaker and Colonie. That's a tough way to start. Defensively, we're playing at a speed I haven't seen since (Carly) Boland worked out of our 1-3-1 (press a decade ago). They are playing all over the place, and flying everywhere."
In its previous five games, Shen averaged 31 forced turnovers per game, with the vast majority of that damage coming in the first three quarters. Friday, Columbia committed nine turnovers in the opening quarter and seven more in the second stanza, trailing 47-16 at intermission.
"We had really good ball movement, something we've been stressing in practice too," said Parker, who delivered five assists and four steals.
Shenendehowa defenders Gianna Winter, left, and Gianna Sodon get hands on a shot by Columbia senior Sarah Rainville on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in East Greenbush, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)Key moment
While Columbia struggled in going 1-for-9 from the field to go along with nine turnovers in the first quarter, Shenendehowa scored the game's first 11 points, committed only one turnover and knocked down 12 of 19 shots. The visitors knockdown five 3-pointers in the opening eight minutes of action.
"I am so proud of us. I think we've seen so much growth this season," Milham said. "If you look at last season, I don't think we grew as much as we have this season."
Shenendehowa senior Kate Milham takes a jumper during a game against Columbia on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in East Greenbush, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)Star of the game
Milham registered 12 of her game-high 28 points during the first quarter. The senior made 10 of 20 shots from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers in the opening eight minutes. She also added six rebounds.
Her final points of the first half came on a three-point play that elevated the lead to 40-11. Milham did not play in the fourth quarter.
Shenendehowa sophomore Gianna Sodon drives to the basket between two Columbia defenders - Freshman Amirah Warren, left, and Madelyn Marra - on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, in East Greenbush, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)Numbers to know
36: The largest lead of the evening for Shen was achieved in the fourth quarter when Shen's sophomore guard, Teagan Foulke, buried a 3-pointer.
22: Combined points and rebounds recorded by Shen senior forward Gianna Winter. She tallied 10 points and 12 rebounds, plus added three assists and three steals.
11: Points scored by Columbia senior guard Sarah Rainville. She produced the lone basket for the Blue Devils in the first quarter and added three more field goals and three foul-shot conversions.
What's next
Shenendehowa: Set to host Schenectady on Tuesday in Suburban Council action.
Columbia: The next challenge awaiting the Blue Devils, ranked No. 17 in Class AA, arrives Tuesday with a league road contest at Shaker.
This article originally published at Shenendehowa girls' basketball team breezes to victory over Columbia.