PLATTSBURGH — As the nerves went away, the excitement picked up between Beekmantown and Peru. A back-and-forth contest that wasn’t decided until the final minute, saw the Eagles prevail, 42-38.
It boiled down to who made the last basket. Both teams dove after loose balls and fought for rebounds.
“Yeah, I mean, we were definitely nervous but I know that we just took time with our shots and slowed it down towards the end of the game,” Beekmantown’s Sophie Miller said. “We’re just happy that we finished it off with a win in the end.”
With one minute to go, Peru’s Bella Berry showed ice in her veins to put the Nighthawks within one at 39-38.
Payton Parliament responded with a basket from the top of the key to push the lead back to three with :37 seconds to go.
After a missed shot by Peru, Grace McCasland was fouled and made one of two free throws to push the Beekmantown lead to its final tally.
As the seconds wound down, the Nighthawks had a turnover which allowed the Eagles to move to the ball down the court and see the clock expire.
Beekmantown rushed together and cheered together in celebration, as all Peru could do was watch.
“It’s actually amazing, especially because I love these girls,” Parliament said. “We’re all best friends.
“The chemistry is insane to know that I’d love to keep going with them. It’s just a lot of fun.”
It’s an exciting time for the Eagles who claimed a sectional title for the first time since 2017. Miller expressed joy not just for the current team, but past ones as well.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “I mean, we haven’t even met at a sectional final since 2017.
“So to do it for all the teams even in the past it just feels amazing to do that for Beekmantown.”
The game started off kilter for both teams as many shots went over the rim, or were off target, in the opening frame. A 10-4 lead for Peru showed both teams had to settle nerves as the game went on.
The game continued to be low scoring as Beekmantown took a 14-13 lead into halftime.
However, midway through the third the baskets started to fall and both teams found their groove.
Teams traded buckets in the third quarter as it ended tied at 26. It set up for a decisive final quarter that both teams could claim.
Right at the start of the fourth, Beekmantown went on a 5-0 run to take a 33-28 lead. However, Peru countered with a 7-0 run to take a 35-33 lead with 3:33 to go.
Miller would hit a clutch three with just over three minutes remaining to give the Eagles a 36-35 lead, they wouldn’t relinquish.
Winners of six of their last ten games, Beekmantown came down the last stretch of the regular season with a mission to finish strong.
“It was really important,” Parliament said. “Especially knowing that we’re playing for this one senior that we have on our team and she’s our best friend and we wanted to win it for her.”
The Eagles don’t have long to celebrate as they hit the road Wednesday to face Franklin Academy at SUNY Potsdam in a NYSPHSAA Regional Semifinal with the game set for 5 p.m.
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Beekmantown 42, Peru 38
Peru (38)
D Snider 0-0-0, Prescott 3-0-9, . Snider 0-0-0, Berry 4-0-11, Duprey 4-2-10, Lawyer 0-0-0, Gushlaw-Mirville 0-2-2, Whitmarsh 0-0-0, Corral 2-0-6. Marino 0-0-0. TOTALS: 20-4-38.
Beekmantown (42)
McCasland 2-3-9, C. Hagadorn 2-0-4, Miller 1-0-3, Gregoire 0-0-0, O. Hagadorn 2-0-4, Parliament 9-0-20. Dutil 1-0-2, Burke 1-0-2, Barnes 0-0-0, TOTALS: 22-3-42
Halftime- Beekmantown, 14-13
3 point goals- BCS (5) McCasland (2), Miller, Parliament (2).PCS (6) Prescott, Berry 3, Corral 2