Peekskill Beats Albertus for Section Title

Peekskill Head Coach Rodney Headley, Jr. stayed to watch every minute of Albertus Magnus's double overtime victory over Pearl River in the Section 1 Class A girls basketball semifinals.

"I saw in the Pearl River game that Albertus was a weak rebounding team," Headley said. "I watched that whole game and saw so many rebounds. I told the girls nobody gives up. If you see a lane and nobody touches you, just go for a rebound."

The strategy worked, with Peekskill constantly getting second and third chances on every possession on the way to a 55-48 victory over Albertus Magnus in Sunday's championship game at the Westchester County Center.

"It's been a weakness all year," Albertus Magnus Head Coach Pat Buckley said. "They just crushed us on the boards."

Albertus Magnus (14-8) overcame that weakness with its offensive skills all season, but the Falcons struggled there as well Sunday.

"The first quarter, we didn't come out with any chip on our shoulders," Buckley said. "We were playing like we were happy to be there. Give them a lot of credit, but we didn't play well. We didn't shoot the ball well and if you give up three or four shots on the other end each time down the floor, you're not going to be successful.

"I feel so bad for our seniors, especially Maeve (Parahus). She gave herself to this program. I would have liked to see her career end with a championship."

Parahus scored 14 points after putting up 36 in the semifinals against Pearl River. Sophomore Madison McGrath led the Falcons with 18 points.

Peekskill won its second championship in three seasons despite not having a single senior on the roster. Freshman Lanay Rodney and eighth grader Nyrie Holliman each scored a team-high 14 points Sunday.

"We know we are a young team," Rodney said. "We have to keep playing. We need to keep going, keep pushing ourselves."

Rodney was named tournament MVP. Teammate Latisha Clark joined her on the all-tournament team with Maeve Parahus and Ryan Doherty of Albertus Magnus and Missy Scognamiglio of Pearl River on the all-tournament team.

As the No. 11 seed, Peekskill had to battle all the way through the outbracket round to even make the championship game.

"We never imagined this," Headley said. "Our goal was to win at least one round. We underachieved last year. We had a lot talent and got upset in the first round. They wanted to better themselves. They never quit. Never quit.

"It was amazing in 2011 and it's one step above now because these girls worked harder and they're even younger."

Peekskill will play Section 9 champion Walkill in the state regional semifinals 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh.