GLENS FALL, NY – On Saturday, Eagles would soar as two teams shared the same name and a shared common goal of getting to the Federation TOC finals.

The St. Michael Academy Eagles were a formidable adversary, even without their star player Shennika Smith, against the smaller Copiague Eagles in the Class AA Girls semifinal game on Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center. While both teams played hard, the Eagles from Copiague were always playing catch-up to the bigger Eagles team from Manhattan, NY. Even with a valiant effort from Ieasia Walker, Copiague would fall, 50-47

At the top of the quarter, O'Neill, a 5-foot-5 junior, set the stage swishing two mid-range jumpers from the right and left of the court to give St. Michael's an early lead. It seemed as if it was going to a long day for the Long Island team until seniors Walker and Gabrielle Gibson struck back from the perimeter and in the paint to send a statement that they were also in it to win it.

The score remained close throughout the first quarter with the Eagles from Manhattan taking a slight 3-point lead at its conclusion. St. Michael's displayed good inside-out ball movement but Copiague responded with solid defense resulting in 4 first half steals. St. Michael's conversely showed a more porous defense, especially in the paint and penetration by Walker would give Copiague their largest lead of the half of four points.

St. Michael's would soon gather momentum and go on a 7-0 run late in the half, capped off by a jumper by O'Neill to go up by 3 points. 5-foot-11 Taylor Ford would add further momentum with a block on defense and then get fouled on offense. Ford would go 1-2 from the line to match Copiague 4-point lead as the half ended with the Long Island team now down, 30-26.

Copiague remained competitive with St. Michaels even though they trailed in rebounds, especially on the offensive glass but would have to step it up as early in the third quarter St. Michaels lead grew. Copiague pulled to within 1 point relying on perimeter shooting. With St. Michael's imposing 6'1" tandem of Brittany Webb and Jelleah Sidney controlling the boards, Copiague would need to remain efficient from the arc. Walker seemed to be up for the task, tying the score at 37 with 1:37 left in the third quarter. A runner by Chelsea Williams as the quarter ended would've given Copiague their first lead but the shot was waved as an offensive foul was assessed on the play.

Going into the fourth quarter, it would be anyone's game as the score was still knotted at 37 apiece. A quick shot in the post by Ford would put St. Michaels back on top early in the quarter as both teams fought tooth and nail.

With 2:49 left in regulation, St. Michaels was up 42-40 and the tension was mounting for both teams. Copiague got cold from the free throw line while St. Michaels committed costly turnovers. The score remained frozen until Alicia Rohlehr nailed a 3-pointer with 1:09 left to increase St. Michael lead to 5.

Down by 4 points with 35 seconds remaining, Walker drove to the hole and got fouled. Going 2-2 from the line to cut the Copiague lead to two. O'Neill would go 1-2 on the opposite end with 25.2 seconds remaining in regulation. Copiague needed at least a 3-point play to tie the game but Gibson would miss on the attempt. After another foul on O'Neil who would go 2-2 from the line, Walker would swish a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to pull the Long Island team to within 2 points. Time would however run out as St. Michaels would advance to play Murry Bergtraum on Sunday at noon for the chip.

O'Neill led St. Michaels with 19 points followed by Rohlehr with 14 points. Walker led all scores with 25 points with Gibson adding 10 points.

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