Stillwater girls basketball gearing up for first-ever state semifinals appearance

STILLWATER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Few people thought the Stillwater girls basketball team was capable of winning a sectional championship, let alone a regional championship.

But the Warriors have done both - first time in program history. And they're embracing the underdog role they've been cast in.

"We're like…the wild card, to be honest," said sophomore guard Addison Thornton. "It's like… going into this…just have fun. You know, if we win, we win. If we don't, I mean…we weren't really expected to be here, so it's [just] amazing that we are."

Stillwater continues to forge ahead into uncharted territory. They'll make their first-ever state semifinal appearance Thursday; continuing a run few envisioned for this team, but one head coach Cassidy Chapko saw brewing.

"We have a phenomenal group of girls," said Chapko. "I just knew that it would take us a little bit to get going. But once we…figured out all those pieces to the puzzle…I knew we had a special group here. And we were able to kinda put it all together and make this…little Cinderella story run that no one really expected."

Chapko's bunch advanced to the semifinals with a 49-45 win last Saturday over Section 10's Lisbon Central. That came one week after their improbable win over Greenwich in the Section 2, Class C final - a team the Warriors lost to by 20 points twice in the regular season.

"After the Greenwich game, we came back to practice, and we were, like, "It just needs to be focus from here on out,"" said senior guard Miranda Price. "And that's exactly what we did. [We] had really good practices all week, and I feel like that really reflected on how we played the other night."

Similar to their battle with Greenwich, Stillwater was entrenched in another back-and-forth contest with the Golden Knights.

But the Warriors again showed their poise down the stretch…one of the defining characteristics of this group.

"All those nerves…you have to leave 'em out," said Thornton. "You just have to play your heart out and whatever happens happens."

"They handled themselves so well," added Chapko. "I never feel that they get rattled or frustrated. When Lisbon went on a run, again, they never got rattled. They keep their cool; keep their composure. And, you know, that helps when they're [in] close games."

Stillwater now awaits Section 3 champion Cooperstown for a right to play in the Class C state championship game. They'll return to Hudson Valley Community College for Thursday's clash with the Hawkeyes - the site where this dream postseason run began to take shape.

"They're very comfortable playing [at HVCC]," said Chapko. "Hopefully we'll get, you know, a big fan base there that they can play in front of. It's an exciting time of year. I'm just happy [with] where, you know, they are right now, and...what the season has been."

"With that confidence that we've had these past few weeks, I feel like we just have to carry that over, and realize that whatever happens, we got here; that's all that matters," added Price. "But, obviously, we have one goal in mind."

Opening tip-off from HVCC is set for 6:00 p.m.