Preview: Suffolk County Class AA Basketball Final

Pinch yourself. It's real. The Sachem East girls basketball team is back to the Suffolk County Class AA championship game. 

With one of its more balanced lineups in program history the Arrows have managed to open eyes yet again this season.

When the term fairy tale year gets thrown around it has to hold some merit. In Sachem's case, it certainly does considering it lost all-world threat Kristen Doherty, who is at Boston College, Caitlin Hopkins, playing at Queens College and Stephanie Burrow, another leader.

In came the freshmen and sophomores and occasional junior to lead the charge. Granted, Meagan Doherty was a key contributor to last season's New York State championship squad, but she started the season with meniscus problems and was uncertain of her ability going forward early on.

But it's been a combination of her, Kathleen Everson, Katie Doherty, Emily Carmel, Sam Drake, Ally Drake and Victoria Hassett, the lone senior of the bunch, working out the chemistry early and never letting up through their normal difficult League I run.

Match-up: No.3 Sachem (18-3) vs.  No. 4 Deer Park (19-2)

Where: Farmingdale State College

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

How they got there: Sachem beat , and recently upset No. 2 for the second straight season. Deer Park beat Connetquot, Whitman and Copiague.

Keys to the game

For Sachem ... don't change a thing. Continue to be led by Meagan Doherty, push the ball upcourt with speed and rhythm, find the open girl on the outside and shoot high percentage shots, while focusing on closed-gap interior defense. Obviously stopping Kelsey Dillon would be a top priority, but going 19-2 thus far didn't happen with the help of one player. The Falcons, too, are balanced and have multiple threats.

For Deer Park ... don't get caught up in the hype. This is a new scene for the Falcons and chanting "We want Sachem" after their win over Copiague in the county semifinals is a clear indication that they have the Arrows pegged as a daunting opponent. If they can put their money with their chants are, they might foster a good game.

Top threats

• Sachem: Meagan Doherty, Kathleen Everson
• Deer Park: Kelsey Dillon, Andrea Desvignes

What's next?: The winner of Friday's game will play in the overall Section XI championship against the winner of the Elwood-Center Moriches game. That game is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

The winner of the Sachem-Deer Park game will also play the winner of the Baldwin-Farmingdale Nassau County Class AA championship Friday, March 11 at Hofstra University in the Long Island final. Game time is 8 p.m. East played Baldwin last year in that game.

Interesting note: Deer Park head coach Mike Gennaro is a Sachem alum from the class of 1986. Check Sachem Patch for a sidebar about his Sachem days after Friday night's game, as well as full analysis of the championship bout with a story, photos and video.

Sachem Patch Prediction: This is an easy one ... Sachem East wins another title and will move on to the Long Island championship.

Twitter feed: If you can't make it to Farmingdale, make sure you follow the Sachem Patch Twitter updates be searching for the hash tag #sachemeastbball. And, follow us @SachemPatch.