CATHOLIC CENTRAL GIRLS WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

March 18, 2024 at 2:11 p.m.

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 **(Cindy Schultz)**

Sister Mary Stephen Vamosy, center and, to her right, Sister James Marie Carras, other St. Coleman’s Convent nuns, sit courtside and cheer for Catholic Central in their Class A state final basketball game on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. CCS wins 64-62 over Walter Panas. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central fans cheer for their team in the Class A state final basketball game against Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

A Catholic Central are Class A state final champions after winning their basketball game 64-62 over Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central coach Audra DiBacco instructs her team during their Class A state final basketball game against Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central’s Gabriella DiBacco, center, shoots for the hoop during their Class A state final basketball game against Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central’s El’Dior Dobere looks to the hoop during their Class A state final basketball game against Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central’s Kristen Foglia, center, drives up court as Walter Panas’ Cadence Nicholas defends during their 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 **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central’s Tanavia Turpin, left, bumps Walter Panas’ Cadence Nicholas on her way to the hoop during their 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 **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central assistant coach Riqiya Harris reacts to a play during their Class A state final basketball game against Walter Panas on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(Cindy Schultz)**

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.

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 into the final quarter before outsourcing Walter Panas, 22-11, in the final eight minutes.

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.

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.