Girls Warriors fall in state semis

By Phil BlAcKwEll

Having already reached a pinnacle not seen in 35 years, the Liverpool girls basketball team wanted to take it two steps further and make the best kind of history with a state Class AA championship.

Earning it required the Warriors to top Section I’s White Plains in last Friday night’s state AA semifinal, but it could not overcome a rough start in a 57-46 defeat to the Tigers.

In her final game before heading to St. John’s next fall, senior forward Neveah Wingate did all that she could, pouring in 21 points, much of it in the early stages, and adding 10 rebounds.

But no other Warriors player scored in double figures, and by the time it was able to get the rest of its offense on track, Liverpool was far behind, a direct result of the size, athleticism and defensive pressure White Plains’ guards put on them from the moment the game started.

Aliya McIver led the Tigers, especially on defense, where she accumulated 14 steals as part of a rare triple-double that also included 13 points and 10 assists. That complemented 21 points from Ineivi Plata and 11 points from Sequoia Layne, Like Liverpool, White Plains had never won a state title, so whoever won this game would get a chance to have that ultimate breakthrough in Saturday’s final against Webster Schroeder.

Having waited all day for a late (past 8 p.m.) tip-off time, Liverpool had a difficult time establishing its offense, not getting a field goal for nearly six minutes before Wingate converted on a three-point play late in the first quarter.

White Plains led 12-6 going to the second, and then took charge with its offense, having its way against a normally stingy Warriors zone defense and gaining a series of baskets both inside and outside.

It left Liverpool trailing 32-17 at the break, but all through the season the Warriors had put together massive scoring outbursts against opposition of all quality, and it happened here, too, at least in the third quarter.

Picking up its pace and finding some seams in the Tigers’ defense, Liverpool ate away at White Plains’ margin and were within single digits, 40-31, heading into the final period.

However, the Warriors could not sustain that run long enough to make the Tigers sweat in the game’s late stages, nor could it find anyone who could take defensive attention off Wingate.

Janea Hamilton-Brown matched Jakeira Stackhouse, each of them getting seven points, while A’briyah Cunningham gained six points.

By Phil BlAcKwEll

A single shot halted the Liverpool boys basketball team’s quest for a second state Class AA championship. Yariel Gomez-Parra’s jump shot with less than two seconds left in overtime gave North Rockland a 57-55 victory over the Warriors in last Friday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association state Class AA semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. For nearly 36 minutes, the two sides had engaged in a tight, tense battle, Liverpool leading most of the way, yet unable to get clear of the Red Raiders in large part due to the foul trouble encountered by star forward Andreo Ash.

Both sides had a chance to win it in regulation but could not. And for much of the OT, they stayed on even terms, too, threatening to go to a second extra period.

Then, with less than 10 seconds to play, North Rockland had possession. Unable to penetrate, the Red Raiders swung the ball to the right corner, where Gomez-Parra, his back to the basket and well defended by Frankie Fowler, still turned around and hit the tiebreaking jumper.

When Liverpool’s attempt to answer with a long pass was intercepted and time ran out, a remarkable season that included Section III and regional titles concluded.

While the Warriors getting to the state final four was not new, the stage at Glens Falls was, since Liverpool claimed that 2018 state title when the tournament was held in Binghamton.

Also unfamiliar was the state semifinal opponent, North Rockland, who only went 13-7 during the regular season but emerged from a Section I ranks long dominated by multitime state champion Mount Vernon. What was quickly apparent was that Liverpool, if it wanted to win, had to do so at the Red Raiders’ physical, grinding tempo, which maintained itself through a closely-fought first half.

Up 24-21 at the break, the Warriors doubled that margin at one point in the third quarter, but it got vulnerable when Ash picked up his third and fourth fouls.

Not having to worry about him, the Red Raiders closed the period strong and grabbed a 36-34 advantage going to the final period, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Fowler and Jason Lawler in the opening minute of the fourth quarter restored the Warriors’ lead.

Even when Ash returned for the closing stretch, Connor Wein’s 3-pointer pushed the Red Raiders in front and, when Kobe Nwosu hit on a reverse layup, the Warriors trailed 4845 with less than two minutes left.

Yet again Liverpool answered, getting four straight points capped by Fowler’s driving layup that produced a 49-48 advantage with a minute to go.

North Rockland got back the ball and, with 4.7 seconds left, Liverpool fouled Elijah Barclay was fouled. Barclay hit one of the two free throws to tie it, and when Fowler’s potential game-winner went off the rim, it went to OT.

Having beat West Genesee twice in OT games during its regular season, the Warriors were experienced in going an extra four minutes, and it turned to Ash, who netted all six points to equal North Rockland and run his total to a team-high 17 points.

In the end, it all came down to Gomez making a tough clutch shot, sending North Rockland to the state final and Liverpool home a day before it wanted.

Fowler had 14 points, with Jah’Deuir Reese getting all of his 12 points in the second half of regulation and Bruce Wingate held to seven points.