By Dylan Butler
GLENS FALLS — If there was any one who understood the feelings in the Christ the King girls’ basketball locker room at the Glens Falls Civic Center Saturday after Murry Bergtraum's 70-54 win in the Class A state Federation championship it was Chanel Moore.
The Blazers senior forward was there last year, dejectedly sitting with her Christ the King teammates after Bergtraum shocked the Royals, 66-59, in the Class A semifinal, ending Christ the King’s 11-year reign as Federation champions.
“It was depressing,” Moore recalled. “We were upset until about 8 p.m. that night. But the coaches told us there was always next year.”
Not for Moore, at least not in a Christ the King uniform.
Saying she “wasn’t comfortable in that environment anymore,” Moore transferred from Christ the King after last year to reigning PSAL champion Murry Bergtraum.
Moore averaged 12.2 points and 8.2 rebounds to help lead Bergtraum to its fourth straight PSAL title, defeating Francis Lewis, 63-44, March 16. Once again she was making the four-hour trip to Glens Falls for the state Federation tournament.
And after a 10-point, 12-rebound performance in a 58-49 win over Central Catholic (Troy), Friday in the Class A semifinal, it insured a much anticipated rematch of last year's semifinal game would be played.
“It feels weird that I don’t have a Christ the King jersey on, but I still feel grateful to have a second chance at states,” Moore said Friday afternoon.
Moore still has friends on the Christ the King team, including injured Cigi McCollin, but when the teams met on the court, it was a different story.
“We still talk as friends,” Moore said. “But as players? No.”
That was evident as soon as both teams walked on the court. Off-the-court friendships took a backseat as both teams played an extremely physical game, combining for 50 fouls, many of them sending players to floor cringing.
Moore had nine points and seven rebounds and on a baseline drive with 2:52 left in the fourth quarter, drew the fifth and final foul on Christ the King standout junior Shay Doron, who was held to just nine points by Moore.
“I knew it was going to be a physical game, so I told the rest of my team be ready to play a physical game,” Moore said. “If you’re going to go, go hard to the basket.”
After experiencing the dejection of losing in the Federation tournament last year, Moore finally got to taste victory, as Bergtraum became the first PSAL girls team to win the Federation title since August Martin in 1989.
“I’m excited,” she said. “In my senior year to finally win the city and states.”
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
