Sports

Preview: NYS Girls Basketball Championship

East girls one win away from state title.

Who: No. 6 Sachem East (20-3) vs. Shenendehowa (22-2)

What: New York State Class AA Championship

Where: Tonight, March 20 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY at 8:45 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

How they got there: After an epic 72-69 win over North Babylon in the Suffolk County Class AA championship last week, Sachem East beat Baldwin, 57-44, in an anti-climatic Long Island championship and state regional semifinal. Last night, East beat Mount Vernon, 57-48, in the New York State semis.

Shenendehowa beat Fairport, 54-41, in the other Class AA semifinal game.

Find out what's happening in Sachemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Players to watch

Sachem East: With 31 points in the semifinals, Kristen Doherty is unstoppable. She still was pressing a bit too much for her own liking, but a 31-point performance kept everyone in check, including her team.

Shenendehowa: Marissa Ray had a team-high 20 points, including four three-pointers in Shen's semifinal win. East needs to lock her up early on the defensive end.

Keys of the game

Sachem East: Let Doherty take over and run the show. This is what big game players are meant to do and based on her performances throughout the playoffs, Doherty is primed to do it again tonight.

Brisson said he may be the only coach in history that was not satisfied with his team's championship-winning performance.

Shenendehow: Shen also needs to utilize it's top player. If Ray can catch fire, then her three-ball will prove to be lethal. 

Historical nugget: This was the first Suffolk County title a Sachem girls basketball team has won since 1998-99 (when it was one Sachem). This is the first Long Island title a Sachem girls basketball team has won since 1998-99, as well. Sachem won state titles in 1994-95 and 1983-84.

Next battle: The winner plays in the NYS federation championship next weekend.

Prediction: Sachem East by a close margin.


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