By Mike Zummo
The Wallkill Panthers have won three straight Section 9 championships, and for the third straight season, their season ended in the state regionals.
The Section 1 champion Albertus Magnus Falcons knocked down 10 3-pointers as they beat the Panthers in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA regional final, 66-42, on Friday at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh.
“I knew they were a good team, and we knew we were going to be undersized,” senior captain Alex Dembinsky said. “We worked really hard in practice. We just couldn’t make shots, and they did.”
No one made more shots than the Falcons’ Allie Falesto, who knocked down six 3-pointers on her way to a game-high 22 points. Meanwhile, Julia Scott dominated on the inside, hitting nine baskets on her way to 21 points.
They, alone, outscored the Panthers by one point.
“They didn’t miss a shot, and I thought we were playing pretty good man (defense),” Wallkill coach A.J. Higby said. “You’ve got to help out on the big girl, but they’re knocking down shot left and right. They have five people that can step out and play. You don’t have to worry about double teaming.”
Junior Zoe Mesuch was the only Panther in double figures, finishing with 18 points.
“We’re a good team, we just couldn’t make shots,” senior captain Samantha Dembinsky said. “I am so proud of this team and everything they’ve done. It’s sad that it’s over, but I’m so insanely proud of everyone.”
The Panthers entered the season the youngest they had been in years. Mesuch is a four-year starter, while Alex and Samantha Dembinsky, twin sisters, were three-year starters.
Behind them, there wasn’t much experience, and when the season started Higby wasn’t sure the Panthers could pull off their third straight sectional championship.
“We have four freshmen on the team,” Alex Dembinsky said. “They’ve never been here. We only have about five people who have been in this spot before, so they have no idea what has to come when it comes to this.”
Underneath play by Amy Crowley, and the development of freshmen Gabby Gaultiere and Aoife Brady helped the 2023-24 Panthers match the accomplishments of the last two years.
“They came to practice every day and worked as hard as possible to get to the level they needed to be to get back to where we were. Obviously, we didn’t go past it, but they did everything.”
The Panthers will lose three senior starters in Alex and Samantha Dembinsky, and Amy Crowley. They’ll also lose senior guard Emma DiLemme, who, while didn’t always start, saw significant playing time.
“They made us go,” Higby said. “Everybody thinks it’s all Zoe, but no. Those five really had to step up and play.”
Mesuch, Wallkill’s all-time leading scorer and the team’s only junior, will lead next year’s Panthers, as they come back short on experience.
“Just keep going,” Samantha Dembinsky said. “Obviously, we kept going and it didn’t go our way. Just keep going. Push with every energy left you have. I know they’ll succeed just like we did, and hopefully go farther.”