By PAUL GOTHAM
TROY, N.Y. — For the first 24 games of this season, the Webster Schroeder girls’ basketball team remained true to themselves. The Warriors lived by the edicts of ‘staying the course’ and ‘seeing the process through to the end.’
Friday evening with a spot in the NYSPHSAA Class AA championship hanging in the balance, the Warriors departed from that trend.
And that switch kept their season alive.
“We did a defensive change for the first time all year,” Schroeder head coach Codi Mrozek said after the Warriors’ 49-39 victory over Section VIII champion, Baldwin. “We’re a man-to-man team. We’ve played that all year. Truthfully, we didn’t have to change because when things are working well, why do you change it?”
Less than four minutes in the third quarter, Schroeder’s 12-point halftime lead had been cut in half. Payton Dulin and Toni Smith took advantage of space in the lane as the Bruins scored on four of their first six possessions to start the frame.
Mrozek called for a timeout. When the Warriors returned to the floor, Addison Morgan and Bria Watkins manned the top of the key with Mariah Watkins, Ava Gallup and Sarah Ferruzza near the baseline.
“We knew this was going to be tough for us match-up wise, man-to-man to play the whole game in that,” Mrozek explained. “Once they started to go on a little bit of a run, we decided let’s try 2-3.
“We were working on it the last few days. It ended up we play most of the second half in. I think it helped us to win.”
Schroeder forced three turnovers before the end of the third quarter and held Baldwin scoreless on its first three trips down the floor in the fourth quarter.
Steal and layup from Mariah Watkins starts the fourth-quarter scoring. Schroeder 39-31. pic.twitter.com/UySb8DWopR
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 17, 2023
When Baldwin cut the deficit to two at 39-37 with little more than five minutes remaining in the game, Schroder’s defense stiffened and did not allow another field goal for the rest of the contest.
“They were just getting easy seams through the middle,” Mrozek said. “We wanted to clog it up and make them play an outside game. They shoot the three, but they don’t have a pure shooter. So if we could play 2-3 and clog it up a little bit, that would improve our chances.
“They hit a few outside shots, but that was kind of our gamble. Make them shoot those outside shots. If they make them, they were meant to make them.”
Mariah Watkins, as she has all year, delivered in the moments when Schroeder needed her most.
Mariah Watkins snaps a 6-0 Baldwin run. Younger sister Bria follows with a putback of her own. Mariah finishes off the dribble. 1:29 remaining @Schroedergbball 45-37 pic.twitter.com/dxZ86BPJzQ
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 17, 2023
The junior guard converted a rebound and putback when Baldwin pulled within two in the fourth. She also halted a 9-0 Baldwin run in the third quarter with a bucket in traffic.
“I can’t say enough because she does it all,” Mrozek stated. “Her poise and her confidence in her ability has made her so successful and able to do those things. When they’re throwing four or five people at her at the same time and she’s able to finish in those stressful moments. She’s everything. She puts the team on her back when we need her to, but she also trusts her teammates in big moments as well.”
Watkins finished with a game-high 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Morgan added 10 points. Bria Watkins (7), Gallup (6) and Mya Perales (5) rounded out the scoring for Schroeder (24-1).
Addison Morgan buries her second straight 3 and third overall. @Schroedergbball 21-13. pic.twitter.com/c6fuDb53of
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 17, 2023
Two weeks ago, the Schroeder girls won a sectional for the first time in more than four decades. On Saturday, they will get a chance to add a state championship title to the trophy case.
“We played a really tough schedule to prepare us for this,” Mrozek said. “It was never about our record. It was about getting better for what we wanted which was first a sectional title. Then we enjoyed that, but then we were like we can keep going and finding that way to stay up at the top and not be complacent. For this program and these girls they’ve wanted this goal all season. We’re excited to have an opportunity tomorrow. It’s pretty crazy.”
Dulin led Baldwin (22-3) with 15 points. Smith had 11 and 13 rebounds. Chinaya Okogeri (8), Monique Echols (3) and Katelyn Simpson (2) also scored for the Bruins.
Schroeder will face Section I champion White Plains (23-3) in Saturday’s final. An 8:45 p.m. tip-off is scheduled.
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