FDR and Hudson Finish Summer Basketball with Championship
The high school girls summer basketball league ended Wednesday night with the semi-final and championship games. After the first round of the playoffs we were left with #1 Hudson taking on #5 FDR Gold in the first semi-final matchup and #2 Saugerties White taking on #3 Catskill.
The first semi-final game was between #1 Hudson and #5 FDR Gold. Hudson cruised to the semi-finals with a 40 – 24 win over #8 Germantown. While FDR took a tougher route and defeated their other squad #4 FDR Green 38 – 25. This semi-final matchup was a tough fought game. Hudson was on edge the whole game till FDR Gold ran away with it at the end. #5 FDR Gold upset #1 Hudson and punched their ticket to the championships by a score of 30 – 23.
The second semi-final game took place between #2 Saugerties White and #3 Catskill. Saugerties White made it to the semi-finals with a blowout victory over their other squad #7 Saugerties Blue. Catskill's first round game was a bit closer, but Catskill came out with the win over #6 Greenville, 22 – 18. Catskill struggled to score in the semi-final matchup. #2 Saugerties White went on to defeat #3 Catskill by a final score of 34 – 16. Saugerties White would be set to take on FDR Gold in the championship game later that night.
At 8 pm, #2 Saugerties White was set to take on #5 FDR Gold in the 2018 Girls High School Summer Basketball Championships. Both teams have shown they have the ability to score a lot of points. It would be no different in the championship game. Both teams had more trouble keeping the other team from scoring. It was tight but, FDR Gold ran away with it at the end. #5 FDR Gold completes another upset to win the 2018 Summer League Championship over #2 Saugerties White, 47 – 33.
The high school boys summer basketball league wrapped up a day later Thursday night. The Gold Division Finals would take place first between #1 Catskill and #3 Saugerties. Saugerties upset #2 Chatham in the Gold Division semi-finals to make it to the division championships. After that, the matchup in the Green Division finals is between #1 Hudson and #3 Coxsackie-Athens. Coxsackie-Athens made it through #2 Greenville to get into the Green Division finals.
The Gold Division Finals took place first between #1 Catskill and #3 Saugerties. Saugerties stayed in range of Catskill as they were falling just behind at half. Catskill began to run away with it in the second half with high scoring efforts. #1 Catskill went on to win the Gold Division and punch their ticket to the Summer League Championships. Catskill got the win 60 – 43 over Saugerties.
The Green Division Finals was up next with #1 Hudson taking on #3 Coxsackie-Athens. What many though might be a high scoring affair turned out to be a tight one. Hudson's usual high-flying offense was lacking a bit. It was very close at half-time. Hudson pulled away but not without a push from Coxsackie-Athens. Hudson went on to win by a final score of 47 – 43 and be crowned the Green Division Champions. With this win, Hudson punched their ticket to the Summer League Championships.
The Championship game was all set to take place between Gold Division Champions, Catskill, and Green Division Champions, Hudson. This is the final matchup everyone was looking forward to. The two rivals didn't play each other this summer but meet-up in the championship game. It was a thrilling matchup between the two high scoring teams. They would keep each other in check however. Catskill kept it close, but Hudson would run away with it in the final half. Hudson went on to win the Summer League Championships, 59 – 43. Both Hudson and Catskill were undefeated in the summer league this season. Only Hudson would remain undefeated as they are crowned the 2018 Boys Summer Basketball League Champions.