By Grady Thompson

Sun Sports Contributor

BINGHAMTON - In the annual girl’s Stars and Stripes Classic basketball tournament at Davis College on Wednesday night, March 23rd, Mirabito Energy Products edged Tri-Town Insurance by a score of 77-65 to advance to the championship game.

Mirabito Energy Products consists of the all-stars from Chenango County, including Norwich’s Shelby Benjamin, Megan Komendarek, and Makenzie Maynard, Bainbridge-Guilford’s Rebecca Reyes, Abigail Selfridge, and Megan Palmatier, and Unadilla Valley’s Sierra Badger. They are coached by Bainbridge-Guilford Head Coaches Bob Conway and Greg Warren.

After the first quarter of play, Mirabito Energy trailed Tri-Town Insurance 19-11 but would quickly turn on the offense in the second and third quarters where they would combine to score an impressive 47 points. They entered the final quarter with a 9 point lead that they would maintain until the final whistle.

Mirabito Energy Products was led by Seton Catholic Central junior Lexi Levy, who scored a game high 17 points, and Norwich’s Shelby Benjamin who tacked on another 10 to help advance Mirabito Energy to the tournament finals.

In the championship game, Mirabito Energy faces Battisti and Garzo who advances to finals after beating Matthews Bud on Wednesday night. The consolation game between Matthews Bud and Tri-Town Insurance will take place on Friday night, March 25th, at 6 p.m. Tip-off for the championship matchup between Mirabito Energy and Battistis and Garzo will follow at 7:30 p.m.