The Utica Notre Dame girls basketball team, also known as the Jugglers, emerged victorious in the NYSPHSAA Class B Girls Basketball Championships on Saturday, March 16, 2024. With a score of 55-51 over Albany Academy-II, they won the Class B title and were honored with the title of team of the year at syracuse.com’s All-CNY High School Sports Award show on Thursday night.
Throughout the season, Notre Dame exhibited dominance with a record of 24-3. Led by All-CNY player of the year finalist, Ella Trinkaus, who averaged 25.4 points per game along with her sisters Maggie (9.3 PPG) and Erin (9.2 PPG), the Jugglers outscored their opponents by over 500 points.
The Jugglers showcased their best performance during the postseason when the pressure was high. They secured victories in their first playoff games by significant margins and remained composed even when facing tougher opponents in later stages. A narrow 63-59 win over Marcellus in the section championship paved the way for their double-digit victories that led them to the state championship.
In the state title game, Notre Dame displayed resilience by overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Albany Academy and claim their first state title since 2014. This moment was a culmination of their hard work and dedication throughout the season, making them deserving of recognition as both state champions and team of
