By PATRICK WALSH
Loren Green finished with 15 points and knocked down three jumpers from beyond the arc, but it was not enough as Aquinas fell to Catholic Central (II) 63-46 in the Girls’ NYS Class A semifinal on Friday.
After falling behind 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, Green netted three baskets in the second, making a pair of three-pointers and scoring eight of the 16 Li’l Irish points. Ajaya Orr made two buckets for four points also in the frame. Aquinas went into the break with a two-point deficit.
Catholic Central responded after the half with a 12-2 run, highlighted by Tanavia Turpin scoring six points on three baskets. The Crusaders made six shots inside the arc during the four-minute run to pull away for good. El’Dior Dobere, Akarri Gaddy and Gabriella DiBaccio all connected on a two-pointer.
In the final frame, Molly O’Toole uncorked two of her three baskets from beyond the arc. Green added a three-pointer.
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The loss ends an Aquinas season that saw the Li’l Irish capture their fifth sectional title in program history and advance to the NYS semifinal for the first time since 2012.
O’Toole tallied 12 points and went 4-for-8 from the field, including 2-for-3 from deep. The junior guard also added seven rebounds and three helpers. Orr chipped in six points and five rebounds, while Julionna Nkugwa had four points and four boards.
Dobere, Turpin, Kristen Foglia and Gaddy combined for 59 of the Crusaders’ 63 points. Foglia netted a pair of three-pointers. Dobere tallied 17 points and was a rebound shy of a double-double. Gaddy brought down 21 boards and scored 12 points for a double-double.
Catholic Central advances to face Walter Panas in the Class A NYS title game. A 7 p.m. tipoff is slated at Hudson Valley Community College.
Aquinas finishes the season 20-6.
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