Red Devils Win, Move on to Championship

When No. 1 Peekskill (20-1) played No. 4 Rye (17-4) during the regular season at Rye, it came away with a 62-39 triumph on Dec. 18 that saw the Red Devils in full control from beginning to end.

The two powerhouse squads faced each other once again in the Section 1 Class A Final Four at the Westchester County Center in White Plains last night, but this time it was a much closer affair. Through three quarters it was anyone's game as Peekskill led 40-35, but the Red Devils were able to pull away in the fourth quarter to secure a 61-52 triumph.

Peekskill will now play No. 2 Pearl River (20-1) in the championship game at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 6 at the county center.

The Red Devils two top scorers, Asia Jackson and Sheridan Taylor scored 20 and 14 points, respectively, a big help in leading the Red Devils to the exciting semifinal victory.

"Sheridan had to step up and she did," Peekskill coach Rodney Headley Jr. said. "It was either that or nothing. Win or go home. As far as Asia goes she was consistent for us like she has been all year. I wouldn't expect anything less."

Leading Rye’s Garnets was senior Lillian McCabe, who scored a game-high 23 points. She received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Rye faithful at the County Center when she was taken out at the end of the last game of her outstanding high-school hoop career. 

Even when it was over, one could hear the competitiveness in her voice.

"I'm glad we made it here but I am not satisfied with just getting here," McCabe said. "I really wanted to win it. I appreciate getting here, don't get me wrong, but I wanted to leave at the top."

One reason why Peekskill has a chance to be the last one standing in Class A is because it was able to hold off a furious Rye rally in the second quarter. Trailing 20-12, Rye cut Peekskill's lead to 22-21.

Nine points in the second quarter from Rye’s McCabe ignited that rally. McCabe said the team’s determination to win got it back in the game.

"We just never stopped playing," McCabe said. "We learned a lesson a few weeks ago against Horace Greeley. We were down 21-7 at the end of the first quarter then at halftime we were only down by two. So we learned from that experience that we could get ourselves out of any hole."

Peekskill though was able to maintain its lead at halftime, then up 24-21 after Jackson finished a fast break with a layup.

"Every little piece of momentum in the playoffs counts for something," Headley said. "Just to stay one step ahead was so important. That kept us up 24-21 at the half. We spoke at the half and talked about just that, that every little piece counts."

Two reasons why Peekskill was able to stay ahead for the remainder of the game was the solid play off the bench by Shonae Draper and JV call-up Latisha Clark. They both played meaningful minutes because of the Red Devils being in foul trouble and each responded well to the pressure cooker that is the county center.

"I didn't know if they were going to have it, but the fact that they came in and executed just lets me know that they have been paying attention and I appreciate that," Headley said.

It looked like Peekskill was going to pull away from the Garnets in the third quarter when it built a 33-23 advantage. A trey though by McCabe, who scored eight points in the quarter, cut Peekskill's lead to 39-35 but the Garnets couldn't get any closer.

"A lot of my coaches here and outside the school told me that if I wanted to win this game I was going to have to take over," McCabe said. "I really tried to put things on my shoulders. My teammates really did a good job, which made things easier for me."

Injury note

A key player off the bench for the Red Devils, junior guard Troi Nolan, didn't play because she recently had minor knee surgery to drain fluid and fix a tiny tear in her meniscus. She is out until at least March 15, according to her doctor, Headley said.
 

POINT TOTALS
Rye-Lillian McCabe (23), Grace Leishman (12), Jillian Chittenden (6), Catharine Greer (6), Katie Killip (2), Kelly O'Neil (2), Rachel Egan (1)

Peekskill-Asia Jackson (20), Sheridan Taylor (14), Jazmin Garcia (11), Tasia Nolan (10), Kiana Letsinger (4), Latisha Clark (2)