Wallkill’s Brianna Cross scored with less than two minutes left in the second quarter at home, and the Panthers had final inched by Marlboro, up 21-20.

But that is where the game ended for Wallkill, and Marlboro’s struggles dissipated as the Dukes led 28-21 at the half Thursday.

The Dukes came out in the third quarter and went on a 20-3 run as Wallkill avoided the embarrassment of being shut out in the period when Alexis Mesuch dropped a three in the closing seconds. The Dukes continued to surge in the fourth quarter before winning 62-36.

“We didn’t put the ball in the basket. We did not get back on D,” said A.J. Higby, Wallkill’s coach.

Cross led Wallkill with 15 points, and she scored 8 points in the second quarter. Molly O’Hare scored 8 points for Wallkill, and 5 of those points were scored with a three in the first quarter.

“Great first half,” said Higby, “that seems to be our story.”

Erin Lofaro led Marlboro with 17 points, scoring 10 in the third quarter.

Elizabeth Lofaro scored 13 points, and Joyce Ryder helped with 10 points.

“The girls came together,” said Marion Appler, Marlboro’s coach, “and it ended up working out.”