To win a Section II title you need a deep, talented roster, a quality coaching staff, some luck along the way, and sometimes extra minutes to earn the crown.

The Cambridge Indians are skilled, well coached and I’m sure at times this year have been lucky.  With checks in the first three boxes, they checked the fourth on Saturday at HVCC needing an extra session to decide things, posting a 62-59 decision over Mekeel Christian to claim the Class C crown.  

Trailing 33-23 at the break the Indians battled back tying things at 41-41 late in the third, and took their first lead since the opening period, at 52-51 with 2:57 remaining.

A Helen Mooney bucket gave Cambridge a 56-54 lead with :54 left, to which Mekeel quickly answered on a Jillian Ballard deuce tying the contest and setting up the overtime period.

With :40 remaining in the extra session the Lions took a 59-58 lead on a Maraya Davis layup, but the Indians Sophie Phillips scored on a dribble drive at the :13 mark, and Grace Snyder added a pair of clutch free throws with six ticks left and Cambridge celebrated it’s well earned Section II championship.

Sophie Phillips with 19 points led Cambridge offensively with Helen Mooney adding 14 points and Lily Phillips 11 for the 23-1 Indians who will face Section VII champion Seton Catholic in a regional semifinal on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Saratoga Spring High School.