After an exciting Section 1 tournament that included a few thrilling comebacks, a couple improbable upsets and plenty of showstopping individual performances, we’ve reached the proverbial goal line. For the 10 local girls basketball teams still competing, the gold balls are not only in sight, but within their grasp.
Follow along as we’ll have coverage of each of the five section finals over championship weekend, including live updates from the Westchester County Center.
Tappan Zee beats Pelham for Class A championship
WHITE PLAINS – Emma McHugh envisioned all this, from the postseason run to hoisting a gold ball, and even the subsequent celebration.
But in her case, it wasn’t an athlete visualizing success, but one finding comfort in her imagination.
It was during the most difficult stretch in her recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, when she was incapacitated and bracing herself for a lengthy and grueling rehabilitation process.
Those fantasies buoyed her emotionally, picturing herself back on the basketball court and contributing to a dominant team, and eventually being overcome with glee while cheered at the Westchester County Center.
See, that “Conceive it then achieve it” concept might work for more than inspirational Instagram captions because the Tappan Zee senior made good on hers.
McHugh starred on both ends, leading the top-seeded Dutchmen to a 47-31 win over Pelham in the Section 1 Class A final on March 6.
“This is everything I thought it would be,” she said, beaming. “We’ve lost in the semifinals the last three years in close games, so we know what it’s like to come up just short. For how hard this team has worked, what we’ve overcome, there’s no better feeling than this.”
What’s next
Tappan Zee advances to face Section 9 champion Highland in a subregional at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, at Mahopac High School. When the Dutchmen last won the section in 2022, that team went on to reach the state final.
“What I took from that run is how good all these teams are and how focused we’ve got to be,” said McHugh, who was on that previous title team as an eighth-grader. “Everyone we’re facing after this also won their section, so we can’t take anything for granted.”
Turning point
Tappan Zee had a six-point win over Pelham in January and both teams steadily improved after that, making a sectional rematch seem inevitable. The Pelicans followed that loss with a 10-game win streak, leading them to the final. The Dutchmen, meanwhile, didn’t lose to an opponent in their classification and remained undefeated within the section until the regular-season finale.
The teams exchanged the lead three times in the opening minutes, but Eve Girardi’s free throws with 2:14 left in the first quarter put Tappan Zee ahead, 7-6, and that lead wasn’t relinquished.
“We’re really versatile and have a lot of poise, so we’re able to go to different strengths if something isn’t working,” coach Riley Chevrier said. “They did a great job crowding Adrianna (D’Orio), but we were able to capitalize on other things.”
The Dutchmen built an eight-point lead in the second quarter before Pelham drew close in the third. Emma Namba’s fadeaway off an inbounds pass pulled the Pelicans within 24-22 midway through the period, but Tappan Zee answered with five straight points and ended the quarter forcing back-to-back turnovers, including McHugh drawing a charge.
Alyssa Sanchez’s three gave them a 34-24 lead a minute into the fourth, and McHugh followed with a spectacular three-point play that brought fans to their feet. She spun around a defender in the lane then hit a short jumper through contact. With a 13-point lead and momentum, and two of Pelham’s best players in foul trouble, Tappan Zee had all but wrapped it up.
“It feels surreal,” said Sanchez, a sophomore. “I’ve never won something like this before, and I love it. This is what we’ve worked for, to have moments like this and get to hold up the gold ball.”
Player of the game
McHugh had 17 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists and was named tournament MVP. Showing no ill effects of the injury, the 5-foot-10 wing is a versatile defender, a capable facilitator, and a go-to scorer for the Dutchmen.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Chevrier said. “She was out for 12 months with the ACL and, not only did she rehab, but she came back in the best shape of her life and was ready to cook. She’s turned into an elite player.”
Box score
Tappan Zee (19-4) — Sanchez added 15 points and two assists and Girardi had nine points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Devin Cunney had three points, 10 rebounds and a block. D’Orio, who received all-tournament honors, had three points, two assists and a steal.
Pelham (18-5) — Green had 11 points and eight rebounds, and Namba had nine points and three assists. Colleen Sheehy added four points and a block, and Charlotte Gomprecht and Arden Keogh each had two steals.
They said it
“It was my dream as a player to win one in (the County Center) and I did as a senior (at Irvington),” said Chevrier, whose team won its 2022 title at Yorktown High School. “It’s been my dream as a coach to get one in this building, and we just did it.”
“Getting injured and having to go a year without sports built character and made me appreciate it more,” McHugh said. “But the whole time, I knew our team was really good and I’d be coming back with a chance to win a championship.”
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
Live game notes
Starting lineups
Pelham: Colleen Sheehy, Emma Namba, Arden Keough, Charlotte Gomprecht and Brooke Green.
Tappan Zee: Eve Girardi, Adrianna D’Orio, Emma McHugh, Alyssa Sanchez and Devin Cunney.
Fourth quarter
Final: Tappan Zee beats Pelham, 47-31, to win the Section 1 Class A championship. The Dutchmen will face the Section 9 champion in a subregional on Tuesday.
The Dutchmen lead 45-30 with 1:07 remaining. Barring something crazy, they’ll capture their first title since 2022.
Tappan Zee leads 40-26 with four minutes to go, and Green just picked up her fifth foul. They’re in a tough spot, to put it very mildly.
McHugh breaks out the signature move into a layup and converts it, plus the foul, upping the Dutchmen lead to 37-24 with 6:09 remaining.
Third quarter
End of the third: McHugh draws a charge on Pelham’s last possession and Tappan Zee takes a 29-22 lead to the fourth.
Sanchez hits a jumper and McHugh’s three free throws have gotten the TZ lead back to 29-22 with a minute remaining.
Colleen Sheehy’s Dirk-ish one-footed fadeaway off an inbounds catch pulled Pelham within 24-22 with 4:06 left in the period.
Second quarter
Halftime: Tappan Zee goes to the half with a 22-16 lead.
Sanchez’s three to beat the shot clock, then Girardi’s quick baseline drive for a layup, gave pushed the Dutchmen lead to 20-14 with 3:30 left in the first half.
D’Orio opened the quarter with a straightaway three, pushing the TZ lead to 15-8. But Green answered with a three-point play.
First quarter
End of the first: The teams exchanged the lead twice, including Namba’s off-balance jumper to beat the shot clock that gave Pelham a 6-5 lead with 2:27 left. But Girardi’s free throws put Tappan Zee ahead, then Sanchez followed with a corner three. The Dutchmen take a 12-8 lead to the second.
The teams are tied at 4 after three minutes. Eve Girardi got Tappan Zee started with a corner three on its first possession, but Pelham’s Brooke Green has made two driving layups.
Friday, March 6
Class A
No. 2 Pelham vs. No. 1 Tappan Zee, 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Class C
No. 2 North Salem vs. No. 1 Tuckahoe, 11 a.m.
Class AA
No. 2 Ossining vs. No. 1 Nyack, 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Class AAA
No. 3 Ketcham vs. No. 1 Albertus Magnus, 11 a.m.
Class B
No. 2 Yonkers Montessori vs. No. 1 Alexander Hamilton, 5 p.m.
Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tappan Zee tops Pelham for Section Class A girls basketball title
Reporting by Stephen Haynes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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