By Peri Kahn
WHITE PLAINS--On Sunday March 5, the White Plains girls' basketball team took home their first section one championship victory since 2008.
The team, led by multiple seniors, most notably Rider University commit Aliya McIver and Ineivi Plata, had a strong start to the regular season where they clearly outscored opponents, holding onto leads for the majority of their games.
Both McIver and Plata reached 1000 career points where they celebrated with teammates, coaches, friends, and family.
The team, cohesive throughout the season, showcased the quality of the girls' program at the high school to fellow classmates and teams in the section.
Their momentum continued from their season opener
as they played aggressively and efficiently throughout the winter, earning themselves a league title and spots on Lohud’s top ten list for multiple weeks in a row.
Finishing their season as they started, the girls concluded the regular season with 17 wins and three losses, earning them the three seed coming into playoffs where they would face off against the 14 seed, Mamaroneck, in their first playoff game.
After outscoring Mamaroneck 66 to 32, the Lady Tigers went on to play six seed New Rochelle. To no surprise the girls continued their post-season winning streak with a 65 to 42 victory over the Huguenots, earning themselves a spot in the section one semifinals.
Although the Lady Tigers had shown tremendous skill, teamwork, and overall winning capabilities, their semifinal matchup against an evenly matched Ketcham team was not a game to be taken lightly.
Even though the stakes were high, the Lady Tigers competed. The first half the score remained tight, but after the ten-minute halftime, the girls jump out to a 10-point lead and their defense was impeccable, making it almost impossible for the Ketcham girls to get a shot off.
With quality shots and tight defense, the girls were able to secure a win against the two seeds and earn a spot in the section finals against the number one seed, Albertus Magnus.
Having come so far, the Lady Tigers' momentum did not stop. With the grit and effective game play they have demonstrated to fans all year, they were able to come away with the upset and take the win in the championship game.
Now, the girls are off to the state tournament where they will compete with the winners of each section throughout New York State and hopefully keep their winning streak alive.