On Sunday, March 25 at Cantiague gym before a standing room only crowd, the Sports Section Miracle completed their amazing season with a 27-23 victory over Salzman-Ashley Liberty. The championship game was one of the most thrilling and tense games played in recent years.

The Miracle and Liberty each had 12-1 records coming into the final game with the Miracle receiving first-place honors as a result of their victory over the Liberty earlier in the season. The Liberty's game plan was to limit the Miracle's potent offense and the strategy appeared to work as the Miracle only had a one-point lead in a low scoring first half.

The second half was more open as each team's offense started to get on track. The Liberty's Paige Prefer was the game's leading scorer and her basket at the end of the third quarter cut the Miracle's lead to two points. The Miracle's success all season was its balanced offense and the team was true to form in this game as six of the players had scored going into the fourth quarter. Because of each team's tight defenses, the scoring chances were limited in the last quarter. The Liberty's Erica Goldstein and Amanda Nagrotsky each made a basket to give them the lead, 23-21 with less than one minute to play.

After the Liberty committed an offensive foul, the Miracle's Tracy Sweetbaum was fouled and she went to the free throw line for two pressure foul shots. With the game on the line, Sweetbaum made both foul shots to tie the game causing a deafening roar from the crowd. On the Liberty's next possession, Stephanie Smith stole the ball and hit a lay-up to give the Miracle a two-point lead. The Miracle held the Liberty again and after another steal, Melanie Motschwiller hit a jump shot to seal the victory. Motschwiller also had a key basket earlier in the quarter. Alanna Herling and Nicole Genchur were big contributors to the Miracle's offense as they each had clutch baskets and assists in the second half. Herling, Genchur and Smith led the Miracle in scoring.

Overall, the Miracle's defensive effort was outstanding as they had a decided edge in both rebounding and steals. The tenacious and aggressive defense of Sherry Greenberg, Marni Weiner, Stephanie Gould and Alex Brody forced turnovers by the Liberty in the last quarter. Greenberg along with Genchur and Herling were the leading rebounders.

The Miracle's path to the finals started with a 40-33 victory over the Marchon Lynx. In that game, Stephanie Smith was the Miracle's leading scorer. Their next game was a victory over the Woodbury Common Rockers with each player contributing to the scoring. This was a team defensive effort as the Rockers' leading scorers; Lindsey Steck and Carly Rosenberg were held well below their regular season averages.

The Liberty made it to the finals with two very close victories. Their first win was against the Fever which game was tied until the last minute. The Liberty's second game resulted in a three-point victory over the ECBA Storm. Prefer led the Liberty in scoring in both of their play-off wins.