The Wallkill Panthers’ bid for back-to-back Section 9 Class AA titles fell short Saturday, as Warwick rallied in the second half to claim a 35-31 victory in the championship game.
Wallkill (13-10) held an 18-12 lead at halftime, but Warwick (21-1) tightened its defense and limited Panthers standout Zoe Mesuch to just nine points. The Wildcats secured the win and advanced to the state tournament.
Mia Domingues, Beatrice Hunter, and Gabriella Gualtiere each finished with six points for Wallkill.
The loss marked the end of an exceptional career for Mesuch, who cemented her place in program history as Wallkill’s all-time leading scorer. She averaged 28.4 points per game this season, was named the Mid-Hudson Athletic League American Conference Player of the Year, and was selected as a 2025 McDonald’s All-America East nominee. Mesuch will continue her basketball and academic career at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Wallkill reached the title game after a strong postseason run, including a 58-42 semifinal win over Cornwall Central on Thursday. Mesuch led the way with 32 points, while Gualtiere and Julia Price added eight each. The Panthers have now won four consecutive meetings against the Dragons.
In the quarterfinals, Wallkill defeated Valley Central 53-42 on March 4 to earn a spot in the semifinals.