March 18, 2024 at 2:59 p.m.

STATE CHAMPS!

Catholic Central girls’ basketball team wins state Class A crown

Catholic Central’s Tanavia Turpin, left, Gabriella DiBacco, center, and El’Dior Dobere celebrate their 64-62 championship win over Walter Panas in the Class A state final basketball game on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist (Courtesy photo of Cindy Schultz)

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The Catholic Central School girls’ basketball team made history.

Led by freshman El’Dior Dobere, who scored 22 points including 10 in the last quarter, the Crusaders defeated Walter Panas, 64-62, to win the Class A state title on March 16 at Hudson Valley Community College.Sister Mary Stephen Vamosy, PBVM, (c.) Sister James Marie Carras, PBVM, (to her right and other Sisters of the Presentation, cheer for Catholic Central during the Class A state final.

The Crusaders finished the season with an impressive 25-1 record and won the second state title - the last one coming in 2002 - in school history. Dobere’s performance was all the more outstanding considering fellow starters - junior Tanavia Turpin, and sophomores Akarri Gaddy and Gabriella DiBacco - all battled foul trouble during the game. The Crusaders also trailed 51-42 heading in the final quarter before outsourcing Walter Panas, 22-11, in the final eight minutes.

Catholic Central’s Tanavia Turpin bumps Walter Panas’ Cadence Nicholas on her way to the hoop in the state final.

Gaddy had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while junior Kristen Foglia added 13 points before fouling out of the game. In the state semifinals, CCS defeated Aquinas Institute, 63-46, on March 15. Turpin (16 points), Foglia (14) and Gaddy (12) led the way for the Crusaders. Catholic Central’s El’Dior Dobere goes to the hoop.

Congratulations to the Crusaders and coach Audra DiBacco, assistant coaches Nichole Riddick and Riqiya Harris, as well Dobere, DiBacco, Gaddy, Turpin, Foglia and the rest of the team: sophomores Amia Rodriguez, Ava Oeffler, Kelise Campbell and Emma Sagendorf and juniors Meghan Paul, Meaghan Finn and Brooklyn Moore.Catholic Central School girls' basketball team are Class A state champions.