Hudson Valley Community College Set to Host 43rd NYSPHSAA Girls Basketball Championship

The Championship Preview, Presented by Upstate New York Hotel Marketing Association

3/18/2025 1:30:57 PM

By: Anthony Cordero, Spring 2025 Intern

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Girls Basketball State Championships return to Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy from March 20-23. This is the 43rd annual Girls Basketball State Tournament which has been hosted by HVCC for the last 28 years (1996).
 
“Throughout its history, the NYSPHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships has distinguished itself as one of the finest tournaments in the nation combining outstanding teams with exceptional students who are representative of their communities,” said Tim Lincoln, NYSPHSAA Girls Basketball State Coordinator. “We celebrate 28 years at Hudson Valley with once again a crew of nearly 100 volunteers in Section 2 to successfully conduct this event and help create memorable experiences while we get to witness a fantastic display of girls basketball.”

Both girls and boys basketball state tournaments are in their second year of six classifications which has extended the tournament to a Thursday through Sunday event for a total of 18 games at each site. Over those four days, 24 teams will compete in each tournament in semifinal and finals with champions crowned Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning when the finals take place.

Last year, the following schools won girls state championships: Our Lady of Lourdes (IX) in Class AAA, Albertus Magnus (IX) in Class AA, Catholic Central (2) in Class A, Utica Notre Dame (III) in Class B, Moravia (IV) in Class C, and in Class D, Hammond (X). Hammond continued their reign in Class D after capturing the state championship for the second straight year. Walter Panas (I) came two points shy of becoming repeat champions in Class A with its loss to Catholic Central.  Catholic Central (2) now competing in Class AA and Albertus Magnus (IX), now competing in Class AAA, are the only returning state champions participating in the 2025 tournament. Meanwhile, five Section 2 teams advanced to the tournament this year.

The tournament tips off at 2:30 pm Thursday with the Class D semifinals and continues with semifinals and finals through Sunday morning.

“This is the premier event of the year,” said Jason Slater, NYSPHSAA State Tournament Director. “We have dozens of people in place to help run a successful event and ensure the student-athletes, coaches and fans enjoy their time here in Section 2 at the state tournament. There are 24 outstanding teams competing and a lot of great basketball this weekend.”

Tickets are $12.00 (including fees) for each day and can be purchased only online on GoFan.  The event schedule can be found on the sports Championship landing page.

All semifinals and finals will be streamed on the NFHS Network, the official broadcasting partner of NYSPHSAA.