TROY — The first time the Averill Park girls’ basketball team claimed a Section II Class A championship in 2006, many of its current roster members either had just been born or were on the way. Throughout that span of time, the Warriors have continued to rack up title after title under the tutelage of the same coach who started the program’s winning ways.
Junior standout Taylor Holohan, who claimed the sectional Most Valuable Player last year when Averill Park went on to capture its second straight championship, earned the honor once again Friday as she delivered 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a 61-49 title triumph over second-seeded Catholic Central.
After the final horn sounded, the bench met the players on the floor at midcourt as if Averill Park won its first championship. That jubilation explains why the Warriors have been able to maintain their slot at the top of the Section II Class A hierarchy.
The win Friday was the 18th straight for Averill Park (21-2), ranked No. 2 in the state, and locked down the program’s 14th sectional title since 2006 in its past 16 chances. There was no sectional tournament in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Warriors lost scholarship players Amelia Wood (Sacred Heart) and Michelina Lombardi (Le Moyne) for the 2022 state championship. This season’s team opened the season at 3-2 with losses to Saratoga Springs and Albany before beginning the winning streak.
“I think our team was kind of looked down on this season, but we worked hard,” Holohan said. “We lost two amazing players, who are on to bigger and better things. We worked and did what we need to do to improve and get where we needed to be. We’re going to keep working even harder to get even farther.”
“This was a very hard-fought game. I give Catholic High a lot of credit. They had a great game plan and played great defense,”…
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