Peru's season ends in 60-32 loss to Albany Academy

TROY | Peru was within striking distance early in the second quarter Friday, March 13, but Albany Academy closed the first half with a resounding burst and went on to defeat the Nighthawks 60-32 in a NYSPHSAA Class A girls basketball regional at Hudson Valley Community College. Peru trailed just 14-12 before Albany Academy seized momentum. The Bears finished the first half on a 20-4 run, turning a two-point game into a comfortable lead heading into the break. Alex Leonard led the surge for Albany Academy. Leonard scored 16 of her game-high 25 points in the first half, including nine during a 13-0 stretch that helped the Bears pull away. Champlain Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year Reese Duprey found her first basket in the closing seconds before halftime. The Peru junior entered the game averaging 18.8 points per contest but was held to four points as Albany Academy focused defensively on limiting the Nighthawks' leading scorer. Leonard continued the momentum after halftime, burying a 3-pointer to begin the third quarter and spark a 9-2 run that pushed Albany Academy's lead to 43-18. The Bears extended their advantage to as many as 33 points early in the fourth quarter. The loss ended a strong season for Peru, which finished 20-3 and was slotted No. 7 in the latest New York State Sportswriters Association Class A rankings. The Nighthawks overcame adversity late in the season following a head coaching change on Jan. 23, when Ryon O'Connell took over for Brittany Marshall. Peru responded by finishing 13-0 in CVAC Division I play to secure the regular-season title. Peru also captured the Section VII Class A championship and the Section VII Champions Challenge title before advancing to the regional round. The Nighthawks return their four leading scorers from this season's roster. Albany Academy, ranked No. 2, improved to 22-2 and advanced to the NYSPHSAA final four, which will also be contested at Hudson Valley Community College.

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Peru's season ends in 60-32 loss to Albany Academy

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