Varsity Insider

So the championship weekend from Championship Week has begun. At least it will, beginning at noon today. The Class C girls are at noon, followed by the boys at 2. The Class B teams take the court this evening with the boys at 5 and the girls at 7.

Me, Dan and Rick Carpiniello will be in the building to cover all the boys action. You can find updates @LoHudInsider or join the conversation on our LIVE chats, which will publish right here on the blog during warmups of both games. Dan and I will take your questions and comments. Here’s hoping the discussion is spirited and civil.

Enjoy the basketball today. Even though I picked Palisade Prep and Dobbs, it wouldn’t surprise me if Children’s Village and Lourdes won. It could be that kind of day.

Saturday’s games -
Class C championship
At the County Center:
Palisade Prep 79, Children’s Village 57
Class B championship
At the County Center:
Our Lady of Lourdes 85, Dobbs Ferry 80 (OT)

GAME RECAPS
Palisade Prep 79, Children’s Village 57: In the Class C final at the County Center, second-seeded Palisade Prep won their first gold ball in school history thanks to a huge third quarter during which they outscored top-seeded Children’s Village 27-9. Palisade Prep’s Brandon Tate, an all-tournament selection, led all scorers with 20 points and five steals, 16 coming in the second half. Tournament MVP Isaiah Ward had 17 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

The Phoenix forced the Hawks into 22 turnovers. Children’s Villages Brandon Rodriguez, who didn’t play in the semifinals, had 17 points. Roger Owens had 13 point and 17 rebounds.

In addition to Tate, Ward and Owens, Children Village’s Rafiq Shaheed, Haldane’s Matt Forlow and Tuckahoe’s Shyheim Nixon were named all-tournament.

Palisade Prep will face Pine Plains in the regional semifinal Tuesday at Mount Saint Mary at 6 p.m.

Class B championship
Our Lady of Lourdes 85, Dobbs Ferry 80 (OT): In the Class B final at the County Center, junior star Eric Paschall had 34 points and 13 rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors, but Lourdes rebounded from a tumultuous final minute of regulation to win its first gold ball.

The Eagles, the No. 4 seed, lost their third straight Class B championship game. No. 3 Lourdes won its first Section 1 championship ever. The Warriors also won the Section 1 Class B-2 title in 1980, but the tournament consisted of second-tier teams.

Mike Donnelly led Lourdes with 21 points. Jack Kolosky added 19 points. Both joined Paschall on the all-tournament team. Dobbs Ferry’s Nick Kost was also named all-tournament after scoring 25 points.

The Eagles sent the game to overtime when Dan Riefenhauser grabbed an offensive rebound and assisted on a basket by Dan Foresti with about four seconds remaining in regulation.

North Salem’s Umar Singh and Putnam Valley’s Jelani Bell-Isaac were also named all-tournament.

The Warriors will play Marlboro at 6 Tuesday at Purchase College.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 5
Class B state regional semifinal
At Purchase College:
Our Lady of Lourdes vs. Marlboro (Section 9), 6 p.m.
Class C state regional semifinal
At Mount St. Mary College, Newburgh:
Palisade Prep vs. Pine Plains (Section 9), 6 p.m.