Class D girls regional final New York State basketball tournament

Lady Lions head to final four

All nine other Section 9 champions, including The Family School, are now history

By RICHARD A. ROSS

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — It wasn’t a pretty win for the Chapel Field Lady Lions, who played a dismal first half on March 11, but the effort was enough to eventually pull away from Section I champs Leake and Watts to garner a 57-41 win and a trip to the Class D final four.

Leake and Watts suited up just six players. Last year against S.S. Seward, they had seven. The last time the team had a full roster was back in December. In last year’s game, the Lady Spartans steamrolled L&W, but Chapel Field had to work much harder to advance. Chapel Field was astonished at its inefficiency as shot after shot refused to drop, nailing an appalling 21 out of 80 shots, including misfires on 25 of 30 attempted three-pointers.

The two teams were tied at 19-all at the half. Chapel Field deployed a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to finally pull away.

The Lady Lions were led by Katie Oskam with 15 points. Leake and Watts’ best player, Makeba Reece, has averaged more than 25 points per game this season. The Lady Lions held her to 21.

Chapel Field now heads to the state semifinals, which will be played at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on March 18 at 10:45 a.m. Their opponent will be Potsdam-area champion Hammond. Last year, S.S. Seward lost to Downsville in the semifinals.

First round exits for Section 9 teams while others last a bit longer

Class D boys: Greenport (Section 11) 46, The Family School 35, first round.

Class C boys: Millbrook 57, Tuckahoe (Section 1) 52, first round; Southold (Section 11) 65, Millbrook 53, quarterfinals.

Class B boys: John F. Kennedy Somers (Section 1) 73, Spackenkill 41, first round.

Class A boys: Peekskill (Section 1) 69, Red Hook 64, quarterfinals.

Class AA boys: Mt. Vernon (Section 1) 62, Newburgh Free Academy 60, quarterfinals.

Class C girls: Millbrook 44, Haldane (Section 1) 41, opening round, East Rockaway (Section 8) 66, Millbrook 36, quarterfinals.

Class B girls: Nanuet (Section 1) 73, Highland 69, opening round

Class A girls: Lourdes (Section 1) 43, Red Hook 35, quarterfinals

Class AA girls: Minisink Valley 69, Horseheads (Section 4) 55, opening round; White Plains (Section 1) 41, Minisink Valley 32, quarterfinals.