SPA CATHOLIC GIRLS WIN FIRST SECTION CROWN

March 9, 2026 at 9:20 a.m.

Saratoga Catholic’s Sophia Ryan, center, shoots and hits a three-point shot during their Section II Class D final basketball game against Northville on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Sophia Ryan, center, is lifted and carried in celebration of their Section II Class D final basketball game against Northville on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Sophia Ryan, center, fights off Northville’s Izzy Colon, left, during their Section II Class D final basketball game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic players and coaches following their Section II Class D final basketball game win against Northville on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Sophia Ryan, center, fights for control of the ball against Northville’s Zoey Jensen, left, and Izzy Colon, right, during their Section II Class D final basketball game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Margaret Crow, center, tries for the hoop as Northville’s Leah Valovic blocks during their Section II Class D final basketball game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Maddison Norton, center, fights for control of the ball against Northville’s Izzy Colon, left, and Zoey Jensen, right, during their Section II Class D final basketball game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic’s Lily Norton, left, passes the ballI as Northville’s Izzy Colon defends during their Section II Class D final basketball game on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic head coach Athena DiLorenzo calls for a time out during their Section II Class D final basketball game against Northville on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

Saratoga Catholic players cheer from the bench during their Section II Class D final basketball game against Northville on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y. Saratoga Catholic wins 43-41. Cindy Schultz for The Evangelist **(CINDY SCHULTZ)**

The Saratoga Central Catholic girls’ basketball team made history this weekend.
The Saints, led by junior Sophia Ryan’s 30 points, won their first ever Section II championship, defeating top-seeded Northville, 43-41, in the Class D final on Saturday, March 7, at Hudson Valley Community College. Ryan, who added seven steals and three assists, made a key steal late in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the second-seeded Saints. Spa Catholic, which is coached by Athena DiLorenzo, had lost to Northville last year in the Class D final, 68-38.
Joining Ryan, who was named Class D MVP, on the Saints are: senior Lily Norton, juniors Maddison Norton, Eva Nucera, Jill Venn, Addison Whitbeck, sophomores Margaret Crow, Hannah Carter, Emma Gilchrist, Maggie Durfee and freshman Sarah Brumley.
With the win, the Saints (12-11) advance to the state playoffs where they will play Schroon Lake at Averill Park High School on Tuesday.