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Sports

Peekskill Girls Basketball Make it to State Championship

The Peekskill girls varsity basketball team defeated Grand Island 41-34 in the state class A semifinals today; on to state championship Saturday.

Peekskill girls varsity basketball team defeated Grand Island 41-34 in the state class A semifinals this afternoon in Troy, New York. Peekskill’s Asia Jackson scored a game high 24 points. Jackson’s teammates Sheridan Taylor and Jazmin Garcia scored seven and eight points respectively. The girls go on to play the winner of the Garden City and Averill Park state semifinal game in the state championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

Peekskill coach Rodney Headley Jr. said that teamwork was a big key to Peekskill (23-1) earning the victory.  

"Everyone knows their roles," Headley said. "Everybody would like to be the No. 1 scorer, but in order to win you have to have people sacrifice individually. The girls knowing their roles helped us execute on defense."  

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That defense held Grand Island's leading scorer, Kallie Banker, to just two points, as she shot just 1 of 15 from the field. Banker entered the contest averaging 16 points per game.  One of Peekskill's high scorers on the season, Jackson, who averages 15 points per game, was on fire early as she scored 10 of Peekskill's 12 points in the opening quarter, including two 3-pointers. The Red Devils led after the first quarter, 12-7.  

"Asia is able to peform on the big stage," Headley said. "You look at our record, she performs the best when she is going up against a Division I level player."  

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The second quarter was a low-scoring affair, as each team recorded just four points, leaving Peekskill up 16-11 at halftime. Peekskill, led in the third quarter by six points from Jackson and five from Garcia, held the lead after three quarters 27-21.   Grand Island (23-1) cut Peekskill's lead to four, 35-31 in the middle of the final quarter, but two free throws by Jackson put Peekskill up by six and the Red Devils were never threatened again.  

Celebrating the victory after the game with the team in the lockeroom was 1986 Peekskill graduate Sheila Wagner, who is the school's all-time leading scorer. Headley was grateful for Wagner's support as were his players.   "She's another legend in Peekskill," Headley said. "To have her here and supporting the girls, means a lot to them."  

Peekskill will play Averill Park, a 43-41 winner on a last second shot in the other semifinal, in the Class A state championship game. If Peekskill wins, it would be its first girls hoop state championship in history.  

Searight going for state title   Tyrone Searight, a 1988 Peekskill graduate, was in atttendance to see Peekskill's win against Grand Island. He is also in Troy because he is the head coach for Section 1 Class C champ Haldane (18-3), which will play Section 4 champ Harpursville (22-1) at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19 in the Class C state semifinals.   Should Haldane win, it would be in the Class C state title game at 1:45 p.m., Sunday, March 20.

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