For the second year in a row, a valiant bid by the Pelham Memorial High School girls varsity basketball team for the division championship came up short on Friday as the Pelicans fell to Tappan Zee 47-31 at the Westchester County Center.  As was the case 12 months ago, the team had to stand disconsolately to the side as its opponent celebrated at center court with the Section 1 championship trophy–the Gold Ball–following the game.

Despite the loss, the girls’ third consecutive visit to the county final-four and second year in a row in the last game bodes well for the program and for next season. The seven seniors were great role models for the squad throughout the year, according to coach Timothy Pitrulle. “The seniors led with passion and have left us with a standard of excellence that I am indebted to,” he said.

As for Friday’s loss, the final score suggests a blowout, but through the first three quarters, it was a gritty defensive struggle, as Tappan Zee built a 29-22 lead. Players on both squads fought, scrambled and lunged for every loose ball, contested jump shots and shoved each other under the net for rebounds. Time and again, the Dutchmen came up with the ball after a missed shot, either by snagging the rebound directly, or smothering and swatting at whichever Pelican got there first.

Unfortunately for Pelham, the intense defensive play also led to early foul trouble, which forced Pitrulle to sit down some of his key players. “Faced with foul trouble from the onset we had to adjust how our offense would function,” Pitrulle wrote in an email. “My assistants did a great job rotating bodies and the back-ups certainly played hard.”

Tappan Zee’s swarming style kept Pelham’s outside shooters off balance and prevented them from finding their rhythm. On the other side of the ball, strong defensive play from Brooke Green, Arden Keough and Paige Shinnefield wasn’t enough to contain Tappan Zee, though Keough and Shinnefield limited Tappan Zee’s best shooter to 3 points.

Throughout the third quarter, the Pelicans were just a basket or two away from getting within striking distance of the Dutchmen. But in the final period, Tappan Zee converted on 3-point shots and inside baskets off fast-break opportunities. The lead ballooned into the teens.

“Hats off to TZ,” wrote Pitrulle. “They are a talented team and they made shots.”

With just over a minute to go, Pitrulle pulled his starters and gave some of the younger players a chance to perform on the marquee court with a big crowd of hometown fans yelling from the rafters. Pitrulle expressed his gratitude for the big turnout from Pelham supporters, describing the crowd as “electric.”

As for his own team, which compiled a record of 19-6, he had nothing but the highest praise.

“The girls’ resiliency is unmatched,” he said. “The winter season is long and the amount of time they give up is unparalleled.” Pitrulle expressed pride at the team’s ability to reach the final four for three consecutive years. “We are truly in the midst of a historic time.”

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