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'It just comes naturally.' Waterloo rolls into Class B girls basketball final

bob chavez, mpnnow
·2 min read

TROY - It’s getting to the point where it’s absurdly reliant.

The Waterloo girls basketball team punched its ticket to a second straight Class B state basketball championship with Friday’s 73-50 win over Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College.

And the Tigers did it with a familiar move: a devastating run in the third quarter that crushes the soul of opponents. They did it against Palmyra-Macedon (20-5) in the Section V championship game, then did it again in last weekend’s regional round against Depew (22-11).

On Friday, Cortland led 29-28 at the half. But four minutes into the third quarter, Waterloo had a 48-35 lead thanks to a 20-6 run ignited by senior guards Morgan Caraballo, Jazzmyn Lewis and Natalie DiSanto.

“I just feel like we’ve always been like that,” said Caraballo. “It just comes naturally.”

What it means

Waterloo's Jazzmyn Lewis (4) drives to the basket in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Waterloo's Jazzmyn Lewis (4) drives to the basket in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.

Waterloo (25-1) will play in Saturday’s 5:15 p.m. championship against Putnam Valley, which beat Albany Academy in the other semifinal.

It’s the second straight Class B final for the Tigers, who lost in last season’s championship game against Schalmont.

Cortland, in its first state semifinal, ends its season with a 21-5 record.

In familiar territory

Waterloo's Morgan Caraballo (1) drives the baseline in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Waterloo's Morgan Caraballo (1) drives the baseline in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.

About that loss in last year’s final, it's a distant memory for the Tigers.

Most of them, anyway.

“It’s huge,” Caraballo said of the loss to Schalmont being a motivator. “I was watching the game a couple of days ago, just watching it over again.”

What Caraballo saw was her open look in the final seconds of a 56-54 game. Her shot hit the front of the rim and denied Waterloo the chance to win in overtime.

But as much as that hurt, it’s also confirmation that the Tigers belong where they are. That they’re able to compete with the state’s best.

Waterloo's Davonti'a Loucks (21) goes up for a shot in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Waterloo's Davonti'a Loucks (21) goes up for a shot in the girls Class B state semifinal game against Cortland at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, on Friday, March 17, 2023.

And on Saturday, they get another shot at the ultimate glory.

“It would be the perfect ending,” Caraballo said. “We have a lot of seniors on this team.”

By the numbers

Caraballo led Waterloo with 18 points, DiSanto scored 12 of her 16 in the third quarter and Lewis added 15. Addison Bree scored seven of her 13 points in the third quarter.

Valerosa Gambitta scored 14 for Cortland and Kendall Mack scored 14.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: NY state girls basketball scores: Waterloo rolls into Class B final