Watkins Glen 16 15 8 4 43
Cambridge 13 19 9 16 57
Saturday, March 16 at Hudson Valley Community College. Going into Saturday evening’s game, the Cambridge Lady Indians basketball team had the chance to become the first team in the history of the school to bring home a state championship in any sport that wasn’t called football.
They succeeded, and they and the Cambridge fans that filled the high, large capacity sideline bleacher at HVCC were very happy about that.
The win didn’t come with the ease of the win the previous day. The first half was a back and forth affair, with the Indians (25-1) trailing 16-13 at the end of the first quarter and holding a precarious one point, 31-32 halftime lead. Sophie Phillips scored 14 points in the second quarter, scoring from inside and outside.
At the halftime break it appeared the Watkins Glen Senacas (21-5) had a possible chink in the armor. They were shooting very well, 12 of 27 (.444) for two-pointers and 6 of 15 (.400) from three-point land, and they were trailing on the scoreboard. Cambridge was close with those numbers (.464/.375), but they had missed more than a couple lay-up opportunities during the first half that possibly could have given them as much as a double digit lead.
Whether it was the long arms of the Cambridge defense or just bad luck, the Seneca’s, who were seeking their second state title in three years, couldn’t keep up the pace. They scored just 12 second half points, with only four coming in the fourth quarter, on 18 percent shooting.
While the 3s were falling regularly in the first half, few found the net in the second half. To make matters worse, only five of 27 two-pointers would find their way through the hoop.
Neither team could get anything going in the third quarter, with the Glen adding eight points to their total and Cambridge adding just nine, to give Cambridge a 41-39 advantage. At this point, it seemed if the Indians could just get a few points breathing space that they would be able to hold it.
Freshman Stacia Epler stepped up and provided that space. Epler hit a three-pointer to start a nine point run that she capped with another three, giving the Indians an 11 point, 50-39, lead with just under four minutes to go.
That was all the breathing space that was needed. After going scoreless for more than six minutes the Senacas scored four points in the final two minutes, but the outcome of the game was determined by that time.
The Cambridge Indians became the 2019 New York State Class C girls basketball champions.
Sophie Phillips had 24 points, six assists, three blocks, three steals and was later named tournament MVP. Stasia Epler had 14 points, and McKayla McLenithan chipped in 10. Cambridge outrebounded WG 40-23. Cambridge had 15 turnovers to WG’s 13.
Looking Ahead
Celebrating a Cambridge girls basketball state championship has the possibility of becoming an annual event for at least a couple of years. The core of this team is made up of sophomores and a freshman. So, core, in this case, means the entire starting lineup is returning for the next two years. With two seniors, Rhiannon Darling and Brecke Gifford, graduating this year, and one junior, Abby Mahar, the remaining six players (sophomores Sophie and Lilly Phillips, Ruth Nolan, Fiona Mooney, McKayla McLenithan, freshman Stacia Epler) on this year’s team will be around to be the team to beat in the Wasaren League, and every level above that, for several years to come.