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Girls: T.M.L.A. wins BQGCHSAA chip over Christ the King with 8.8

FRESH MEADOWS, NY- Leading by 11 with just over 3 minutes to play in the 4th quarter, things were looking good for The Mary Louis Academy in the BQGCHSAA Class "AA" Championship Game on Saturday against Christ the King. They seemed to have things in hand and we're taking it to the Royals in what must be considered the biggest game in TMLA school history.

Maybe they pressed a bit, or maybe you just have to give Christ the King credit, but the Royals wouldn't go away quietly as they chipped slowly away at the Hilltoppers lead, and when Brandy Thomas '18 connected on a three from the right wing with 8.8 seconds to play, they had come all the way back to tie the game up at 64.

That is when Mary Louis called their final timeout to set up a play to win. They had coughed up a late double digit lead, but remaining focused on the job at hand, Jordan Nixon '18 attacked and found Vanerlie Valcourt '18 cutting in the lane for the championship winning bucket, giving the Hilltoppers their first ever BQGCHSAA Class "AA" Championship, downing Christ the King in dramatic fashion, 66-64.

You couldn't ask for anything better on Saturday evening from St. Francis Prep in Queens as the top two teams in the BQGCHSAA met with everything on the line. They had split the two games they played this season with each team winning on their home court, and with this one on a neutral court for the league title, it was primed to be a classic and a game to remember.

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Christ the King was able to get off to a strong start as Thomas scored 9 points in the opening quarter, scoring from both inside and outside to put the Royals on top early on. They were also doing a nice job controlling the glass with Natalija Marshall '20 and Klarke Sconiers '19 keeping Mary Louis from doing much in the paint.

It was the guard play of the Hilltoppers that led them back in the second quarter as Nixon was able to pressure the Christ the King guards into 3 straight turnovers, leading to easy buckets on the other end which propelled them on a 7-0 run to close the half, giving The Mary Louis Academy a 30-26 lead at the break.

For most of the second half it seemed as if Mary Louis was in firm control, having that late second quarter run push them forward into what seemed to be a flawless effort as the Hilltoppers would lead by as much as 56-42 after the unsung Carly McCann '18 drained a three ball from the left side with 5:34 left to play.

The lead for TMLA was still 60-49 with 3:34 to play, and with the Royals in serious foul trouble most figured this was going to be a game that saw the Hilltoppers coast home to take the title, but the 29 time BQGCHSAA champs in Christ the King had other ideas.

Refusing to go away quietly, they put more pressure on the guards on Mary Louis and that created mistakes by the Hilltoppers which helped them draw closer and closer each possession. First it was a putback by Marshall, then it was a coast to coast finish by Kaelynn Satterfield '19, and before you knew it a finish by Jaeonna Sutton '18 going down the lane got Christ the King within 63-61 with 15.3 seconds to go.

Having to foul still as they were down 2, Christ the King ended up fouling Valcourt, sending the junior to the FT line for 2 incredibly important foul shots. She calmly stepped up and hit the first, but missed the second to give the Royals a chance down 64-61. Thomas brought the ball up the court off the rebound and the Hilltopper defenders backed off as she put up a shot that was nothing but net with 8.8 seconds to play, tying the game up at 64 and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

It was a brand-new ballgame at this point, but even though the lead they held was gone, superstar senior forward Danielle Patterson '17 knew that TMLA was still in good position if they just believed.

"We had to hold our composure because with them celebrating and whatnot we knew we couldn't be holding our heads down," Patterson explained. "We had to go back and execute a play."

There was no doubt in the mind of Mary Louis head coach JoAnn Arbitello-Pinnock what that play would be. A go to play for her is a play she calls line as it allows anyone of her 4 main scorers to get the ball and make a play.

Vanerlie Valcourt & Danielle Patterson
Vanerlie Valcourt & Danielle Patterson (M. Libert)

She would design that play up in the huddle for her team, but before they went back on the court, she gave them all one last message in hopes that things would end up in their favor.

"I said we could either celebrate or watch them celebrate, those were my words to them exactly," Arbitello-Pinnock stated. "We have girls who can get to the basket so I made sure they were lined up right, reminded them we had no timeouts left, and just hoped that we got a bucket."

With everything on the line, the ball was inbounded to Nixon who began to drive to the rim, but with the double team having made its way to her she kicked the ball back out to Valcourt who took one dribble and then put up a shot with her left hand that was nothing but net, putting the Hilltoppers up by 2 with just 3.4 seconds remaining.

Still with time on the clock, Christ the King had a chance to win, but without any timeouts left on their side, all they could get off was a running three pointer from just inside midcourt by Sutton, a shot that nearly went in hitting off the front of the rim, but once it bounced off it was pandemonium as The Mary Louis Academy players, coaches, and fans all rushed the court in jubilation as the Hilltoppers had finally done it, defeating Christ the King 66-64 to win the school's first ever the BQGCHSAA Class "AA" Championship.

In a victory that will go down forever in Mary Louis Academy history, Patterson had a game high 23 points, with Kania Pollock '18 adding 13 points, and the hero of the day in Valcourt chipping in with 12 points.

She may have had 12 points, but Valcourt also will forever have the 2 biggest points in TMLA history, and while she said that she understands the magnitude of the moment, she couldn't believe moments after the game that she was able to put in the bucket to get them the win, and the championship.

"I was just like I got to do something to get us the win. I had to do something to get us over the hump. I saw there was like 5 seconds left when I got the ball so I took my time and put it up," Valcourt explained. "It went in. I couldn't believe it.

Valcourt's bucket sealed the win for The Mary Louis Academy, but at the same time it cost Christ the King their chance at BQGCHSAA Championship #30. They too were going for history, but even with Thomas scoring 20 points, and Satterfield adding 14 points, it wasn't enough as Sutton's last second heave fell just short, allowing the Hilltoppers to walk away with the title.

Six years to the very day that The Mary Louis Academy last defeated Christ the King in playoff competition, they did it again. That time was just a BQGCHSAA Class "AA" Semifinal matchup, this one was for the Championship, allowing the Hilltoppers to make history and bring the school the Diocese Title for the first time.

The win nearly brought Arbitello-Pinnock to tears after the game as she remembered all the great Hilltopper players who came through the doors over the past 10 years that she has been there, noting that this victory isn't just for her and the players on the team now, it's for everyone who has ever put on a TMLA jersey.

"This is for every kid who ever put on a Mary Louis uniform because this didn't just start this year. It started 10 years ago, when I walked in the door with Karin Robinson," Arbitello-Pinnock said. "Every year we have had girls grinding to get here, and tonight we did it and I am just so happy."

Happiness was the overwhelming theme all around for the Hilltoppers as everyone now knows that Saturday, March 4th, 2017 will go down as one of the greatest days in Mary Louis Academy history.


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