Defeat North Salem after two regular-season losses
After losing to North Salem twice during the regular season — by scores of 49-42 and 62-14 — Haldane upset the Tigers, 48-43, on Monday (March 3) in the semifinals of the Section I, Class C tournament at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Seeded No. 3 in the four-team field, the Blue Devils (5-16) advance to the title game at noon on Saturday against No. 1 Tuckahoe (14-7), again at the county center. Tuckahoe defeated Haldane in the title game last year, 58-34. The teams did not play during the regular season. The game will be broadcast at events.locallive.tv.
Against No. 2 North Salem, the Blue Devils were led by Marisa Peters, who scored 25 points, including 16 in the second half. “Going into the game, we knew that it was going to be close,” she said. “I knew that I had to at least attract another defender and get my teammates open.”
Haldane held a 9-6 lead after the first quarter and the Tigers led, 22-20, at the half. In the third quarter, Haldane went on an 8-0 run that included back-to-back 3-pointers by Kayla Ruggiero. After the Tigers cut their deficit to two, Peters hit two straight 3-pointers.
With 6:11 left in the game, and Haldane up by eight, the Tigers scored five straight to cut the lead to three. Peters answered with a huge three and the Blue Devils held on.
“It feels fantastic,” said Coach Scott Timpano, in his first season with Haldane. “To see them execute the things that we worked on, it makes you feel proud, makes you feel accomplished.”
