By Dylan Butler
GLENS FALLS – Bob Mackey swears there's no rivalry and Shay Doron claims she doesn't even know any of the players on Murry Bergtraum.
But after a 68-42 rout of Copiague in the state Federation Class A semifinals Friday at the Glens Falls Civic Center, the Christ the King girls' basketball coach and his McDonald's All-American guard get a chance at redemption as the Royals, ranked No. 4 in the country by USA Today, take on third-ranked Murry Bergtraum Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in the Class A championship.
“We've worked hard all season for this game,” said the Maryland-bound Doron, who scored a game-high 20 points, 17 in the first half. “If we play the way we played today we should be victorious. It's not like hatred or anything. It's a game and we have to win.”
Doron has only been in America for two years, after moving from Israel to Great Neck. And although she's been mentioned in the same breath as other Christ the King greats like Chamique Holdsclaw, Sue Bird and Clare Droesch, the one thing they have that she doesn't is a state Federation title.
Last year on the same floor, Bergtraum dominated the Royals to win its first Federation title. This year Doron says her team is closer and more experienced.
“We're better at finishing games this year,” she said. “We're a closer team and I think we can pull it off. We're both great teams. I think it's going to be a great game.”
Against Copiague, Christ the King (24-1) also proved they can start games strong. The Royals went on an 11-0 run to take a 16-8 lead on a Doron layup and a Candice Lindsay putback capped a 17-2 run to give the Royals a 35-12 lead with 2:53 left in the second quarter.
“Great players step up in big games and Shay showed she was capable of that,” Mackey said.
With UConn-bound guard Kia Wright mired in foul trouble, Copiague (25-2) couldn't catch its breath against Christ the King. Wright, who scored more than 2,000 points in her career, finished with just 10 points before fouling out with 2:57 left in the game.
While Copiague has one Division I player, Christ the King has seven and led by Amanda LoCascio (13 points, 6 assists), Lesley Dickinson (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Lindsay (9 points, 4 rebounds), the Royals cruised in the second half to set up a much-anticipated rematch of last year's title match.
“I'm happy to be in the finals, but it wouldn't have mattered if it was Murry Bergtraum or Little Falls,” Mackey said. “Is it a big rivalry? If we played during the regular season it would be, but they refuse to play us in the regular season.”
A rivalry or not, this will be the third straight time Bergtraum and Christ the King have met in the state Federation tournament. Here is a look at the previous two games.
March 23, 2001
State Federation Class 'A' semifinal
Glens Falls Civic Center
It was suppose to be Clare Droesch's curtain call. Like Chamique Holdsclaw and Sue Bird before her, Droesch was supposed to pick up her fourth state Federation title before heading off to play Division I basketball.
Instead, it became a coming-out party for three-time PSAL champ Murry Bergtraum.
The Lady Blazers shocked the girls basketball world, ending the Royals' streak of 11 straight Federation titles with a 67-59 semifinal win. A day later Bergtraum was thumped by Colonie (Albany) in the final.
Boston College-bound Droesch scored 31 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but Cindy Gonzalez and Crystal McFadden netted 22 points apiece for Bergtraum. Gonzalez's three-point play two minutes into the fourth quarter gave the Lady Blazers the lead for good.
March 23, 2002
State Federation Class 'A' final
Glens Falls Civic Center
Murry Bergtraum proved its win over Christ the King a year earlier was no fluke, thoroughly dominating the CHSAA powerhouse, 70-54, to become the first PSAL team to win a state Federation title since 1995.
Helping lead the way for the Lady Blazers was Chanel Moore, who transferred from Christ the King to Bergtraum before the start of the season. Her final game in a Royals uniform was the semifinal loss in Glens Falls.
McFadden had 18 points and 12 rebounds, including 8 on the offensive glass, and Carmen Guzman added a game-high 19 points for the Lady Blazers. Bergtraum outrebounded Christ the King, 41-26.
“It was a very physical game from start to finish and I think it played to their advantage,” Mackey said after the game. “They definitely outworked us on the boards. That was the main difference. They outhustled us.”
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
