Congratulations to the Greene Trojans girls’ basketball team on a great season. Greene fell to Moravia 46-37 in the Section IV, Class C semi-finals. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

DRYDEN – After what looked like the season was right on their side as they won the MAC league championship and advanced past the first sectionals round, the Greene Lady Trojans faced an even bigger challenge against third seed Moravia. The two teams battled it out with Moravia pressuring in the final quarter to take the 46-37 victory in the Class C semi-finals, held at Tompkins Cortland Community College. Greene had themselves a great season and should only be proud of going thus far.

Both teams caught a glimpse of each other’s abilities early on. From the start, Greene could see how Moravia was much different than the teams they had played against all season. The Blue Devils added pressure early on and Greene was unable to move, but managed to be ahead in the first half. The Trojans only got more comfortable with adding pressure on their own defensive end, but also had some foul troubles and Moravia got around them in the end.

Greene took a brief 22-17 lead at halftime and found themselves in a much more difficult position in the second half. The offense couldn’t find the same rhythm that it was used to and the defense could not box out and hold Moravia. Moravia settled in on making some successful long shots, especially one at the buzzer to end the third quarter, putting them up by one point.

The final eight minutes were the deciding factor of this game to send the winner to the sectional finals. Greene pushed themselves in the fourth quarter with Claire Flanagan getting in a groove late in the game, where she even added a drive and posted a layup in the final possession. Moravia continued adding on and banking three-pointers, which left the Trojans in defeat as they were down 10 with under two minutes to play. With facing a team that matched their intensity this season, Greene gave it their best and left their mark on another great year.

Claire Flanagan led the Trojans with 11 points as Abby Yahner and Josie Dutcher both added eight points in a strong first half. Mia Yahner finished with six points as Lyla Biefeldt and Cali Knapp were held to two points each.

Greene finished the 2023-2024 season with an 18-2 record. Good luck to seniors Lyla Biefeldt, Molly Cornell, and Justina Parsons.

Scores by quarter:

MO 8 9 13 16—46

GR 9 13 7 8—37

MO: Jessalyn Jones 13, Jordan Smith 9, Allison Kehoe 9, Caraline Wasileski 7, Olivia Genson 5, Gabriella Heim 3.

GR: Claire Flanagan 11, Abby Yahner 8, Josie Dutcher 8, Mia Yahner 6, Lyla Biefeldt 2, Cali Knapp 2.

Three-pointers: MO 6 (Kehoe 3, Jones 2, Smith); GR 3 (Dutcher 2, Flanagan).