The Cornwall girls were relaxed and smiling when they entered the gym on Sunday afternoon. They warmed up well, and held the lead in the early minutes.
But in recent years, the Lady Dragons have not had a happy history in the arena at SUNY New Paltz. On Feb. 28, they lost in the section finals for the fifth year in a row. The final score was 57-32 in favor of Saugerties.
The new champions deserve the credit. If the Cornwall girls had a flaw, it was an inability to score from the outside. Olivia Davet’s three at the end of the first quarter was Cornwall’s only success from the perimeter.
Maddie Vinett led the team with 14 points. She made all six of her free throws despite the opposing crowd stamping its feet and shouting every time she took a shot.
The loss followed a come-from-behind victory at home in the section semifinals on Friday night. With the clock ticking down, Red Hook had the ball and a one point lead. But Sam Incognoli forced a turnover for Cornwall, and drew a foul as she drove to the basket.
The Cornwall 11th-grader netted both shots to put her team ahead 47-46 with just seven seconds remaining. The Dragon defense held, and the home fans started to celebrate as the buzzer sounded. But it was premature.
An official called a foul as time ran out. A Red Hook player stepped to the line for a pair of free throws, while her teammates and the opposition watched from center court. Both attempts flirted with the rim and fell away. The Cornwall victory was official.
As the crowd started to leave, a youngster in a different part of the building accidentally triggered the fire alarm. People exited the gym as a siren whined and the lights flashed. Perhaps it was a warning not to go to New Paltz.
2 GAMES — Points: Vinett 33, Malone 23, Incognoli 12, Davet 6, Moreau 2, Harding 2, Hurley 1. Threes: Davet 2, Incognoli. Free throws: Vinett 11-13, Incognoli 3-3.
Cornwall’s recent history reveals a string of second-place finishes. The last five seasons have ended in the field house at SUNY New Paltz.
2016 14-8 (section runner-up)
2015 13-6 (section runner-up)
2014 16-4 (section runner-up)
2013 14-6 (section runner-up)
2012 15-5 (section runner-up)
2011 13-6 (section semifinals)
2010 17-4 (section champion)
2009 18-5 (section champion)
2008 18-6 (regional champion)
2007 16-7 (section champion)
2006 15-6 (section runner-up)
