On Friday and Saturday, December 27 – 28, Wallkill hosted the 2019 Coaches vs. Cancer girls’ basketball tournament. Participating this year were the Cornwall Dragons, Valley Central Vikings, Onteora Eagles and the Wallkill Panthers. In a tournament matchup that could end up foreshadowing a Section 9, Class A playoff game between Wallkill and Cornwall, the Dragons were able to come away with the victory, by a score of 61 – 51.

The 10-point differential doesn’t speak for how close the game actually was. The Panthers found themselves in a 6 – 14 hole after the first quarter and slowly fought their way back in the second and third quarters, even taking the lead at one point late in the third. However, their achilles heel on Saturday night was Cornwall’s 3-point shooting. “We got close but that was about it,” said Wallkill’s head coach A.J. Higby. “We didn’t jump out on their shooters fast enough.”

The game turned from a physical back-and-forth, early on, to essentially a 3-point shooting contest in the second half. As a team, Cornwall drained nine 3-point field goals, with Wallkill making seven. Four came from Cornwall’s Amaya Barbier, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Wallkill’s Emma Spindler seemed to thrive on the competition. The freshman guard scored 19 points in the game, including three 3-pointers of own. Jordan Detz scored 12 points, including two three-pointers and 5 rebounds. Emma Schwarzbeck contributed with 7 points.

“Emma [Spindler] is out of this world. She plays well,” said Higby. “She needs to build her confidence, but will be one hell of a ballplayer, that’s for sure.

“She’s a freshman and played on the team last year as an eighth grader.”

Another bright spot for the Panthers was Madison Dembroski. Although she didn’t score any points, her 13 rebounds helped keep the game within reach. “Madison keeps us in games,” said Higby. “When we play man [defense] she’s phenomenal.”

Both Spindler and Dembroski were named to the all-tournament team in the awards ceremony after the championship game.

On Friday night the Panthers defeated the Onteora Eagles by a score of 48-18, to reach the championship game. With a win and loss in the tournament, their record is even at 3-3.

Wallkill will next travel to Rondout Valley for a league matchup on Friday January 3.

Cornwall defeated Valley Central, on Friday, by a score of 50-39, which gave them the opportunity to face Wallkill in the championship. Valley Central defeated Onteora on Saturday in the consolation game, 57 – 20.

The Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament has been a way for high school and college teams across the country to raise money and awareness of the disease, since 1993. The fundraising proceeds support the American Cancer Society.