CATHOLIC CENTRAL GIRLS WIN BACK-TO-BACK SECTION TITLES

March 12, 2025 at 1:45 p.m.

Catholic Central School head coach Audra DiBacco and her team celebrate a 64-63 win over Columbia during their Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

The Catholic Central School girls' basketball team celebrates a 64-63 win over Columbia during their Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(Cindy Schultz)**

Catholic Central’s El’Dior Dobere looks to get around Columbia’s Alivia Landy during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s Kristen Foglia aims for the hoop during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s El’Dior Dobere threads the needle as she heads for the hoop during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s bench cheers for a three-point basket during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s Akarri Gaddy goes to the hoop during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central School head coach Audra DiBacco instructs her team during their Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s Akarri Gaddy aims for the hoop during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Catholic Central’s Kelise Campbell defends against Columbia’s Kendyl Ouimette during the Crusaders' Section II Class AA final basketball game on March 10 at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

The Catholic Central School girls’ basketball team held off top-seeded Columbia, 64-63, to win the Section II Class AA title at Hudson Valley Community College on March 10. CCS, which won the Section II Class A crown and the Class A state championship last season, moves on to play Section III champion Nottingham at 5 p.m., on March 15 at Onondaga Community College in the state tournament. Akarri Gaddy scored what turned out to be the winning basket for Crusaders (19-4), who withstood some tense moments in the final minutes but came out on top. Sophomore El’Dior Dobere (15 points) was named the tournament’s most valuable player, while seniors Tanavia Turpin and Kristen Foglia added 13 points each for coach Audra DiBacco’s team.