From left: Southwestern head coach Kay Sirianni and captains Reece Beaver, Madi McIntyre, Lauren Cotter and Bella Sirianni receive the NYSPHSAA semifinalist plaque from Chris Durr, Section VI girls basketball chairman, after losing to Albany Academy for Girls on Friday morning at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

TROY – Southwestern knew it faced a tall task Friday morning.

The Albany Academy for Girls was that and more.

Three Bears scored at least 20 points, led by senior Bella Vincent’s 21, and the Section II champions started the game on a 14-0 run en route to a 73-32 victory in the first New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B semifinal at Hudson Valley Community College’s McDonough Sports Complex.

“We knew that they were a really good team. We knew that they could shoot outside as well as penetrate the paint. They were bigger and faster than us,” Southwestern head coach Kay Sirianni said. “We knew we had a challenge. They played a great game. They were definitely the better team today.”

Trojans senior Reece Beaver, Chautauqua County’s all-time leading scorer, finished with a game-high 22 points to end her stellar Southwestern career with 2,463 points.

Southwestern's Reece Beaver attempts to score inside during the second half of Friday's NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal against Albany Academy for Girls at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“I’m really proud of my career. It has meant so much to me. I’ve loved playing in Chautauqua County for the Trojans,” Beaver said ” … It’s always been my dream to go to states. Right now I’m really upset … but I’m glad I’m crying here and not at Buff State.”

Albany Academy, a prep school located 9 miles from the Hudson Valley CC campus, led from the outset Friday.

Junior Eva Gitto scored 6 points and Vincent added 5 during the Bears’ opening spurt before Beaver made the Trojans’ first field goal with 2:44 remaining in the first quarter and then a 3-pointer 30 seconds later.

That did little to slow Albany Academy, which closed the period on an 11-1 run to lead 25-6 after the first quarter.

“It’s always hard to guard a team defensively when they have offensive strength like that,” Sirianni said.

Southwestern's Lauren Cotter is fouled as she goes to the basket during the second half of Friday's NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal against Albany Academy for Girls at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

Southwestern went just 2 of 11 from the field, including 1 of 8 from 3-point range, and turned the ball over five times in the opening eight minutes.

“It was really frustrating. They are a great defensive team; I would say that’s probably their biggest strength,” Beaver said. ” … They played really disciplined defense.”

The Trojans stayed in the game with a pair of Beaver 3-pointers, a pair of free throws from senior Madi McIntyre, and an additional free throw from Beaver that made it a 10-point game with 2:19 left in the second quarter.

“They were hot that first quarter and we caught up,” Sirianni said. “We got into our rhythm and started hitting some shots, brought it back within 10 and we were ready to play at that point.”

With an opportunity for the last shot of the first half, Southwestern missed a 3-pointer, and the Bears capitalized at the other end when sophomore Alex Leonard hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer. She followed with a 3 to open the second half and made it a 16-point game.

Southwestern's Madi McIntyre battles for a rebound during the first half of Friday's NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal against Albany Academy for Girls at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy. P-J photo by Matt Spielman

“They hit that 3 right off the bat and it kind of killed us a little bit,” Beaver said.

Vincent later scored 10 straight points, including her 1,000th career point, as part of a 26-4 third quarter as Albany Academy put the game away.

“Going into the second half, it just seemed like they put a lot more pressure on me,” Beaver said. “Some of our girls couldn’t hit the shots when they were open. Once a team starts to go on a run and another team goes dry on offense, it’s really hard.”

Southwestern finished 9 of 52 from the field with just two other players making a basket other than Beaver. The 32 points was the Trojans’ lowest output of the season.

“This is the best team we’ve played, by far,” Sirianni said bluntly.

The Bears, who will move up to Class A next year after winning back-to-back Section II titles at Class B, will look to win their first state title at 5:15 p.m. Saturday against Section III Utica Notre Dame, which beat Section I Putnam Valley 57-47 in Friday morning’s second semifinal.

Southwestern, on the other hand, graduates three seniors in Beaver, McIntyre and Lauren Cotter, but returns nine underclassmen who will look to repeat as Far West Regional champions for the first time in school history.

“Our goal since the beginning of the season was to make it to states. This is a wonderful team to get here. I’m really proud of these girls,” Sirianni said. “Sometimes you are stopped at sectionals, the crossover game, the Far West … to be able to win that many games to get here is impressive.”

NOTES: Gitto had 20 points and seven rebounds, while Leonard had 20 points and five rebounds for Albany Academy, which shot 27 of 64 from the field, including 10 of 31 from 3-point range, and turned the ball over five times. … McIntyre had 10 rebounds and Cotter had seven for Southwestern, which finished 4 of 30 from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 11 times.

ALBANY ACADEMY FOR GIRLS (73)

Gitto 7 4 20, Williams 1 2 5, Vien 1 0 2, Thornton 0 2 2, Bischoff 0 0 0, Haldeman 0 0 0, Morse 0 0 0, Conway 0 0 0, Vincent 9 0 21, Zeyak 0 0 0, Ostovar 0 0 0, MLeonard 1 0 3, ALeonard 8 1 20. Totals 27 9 73.

SOUTHWESTERN (32)

CBeaver 0 0 0, RBeaver 7 4 22, Cotter 0 4 4, BBeaver 1 0 2, Sirianni 1 0 2, McIntyre 0 2 2, Pearson 0 0 0, Genareo 0 0 0. Totals 9 10 32.

3-point goals-Gitto 2, Williams, Vincent 3, MLeonard, ALeonard 3, RBeaver 4.

Albany Academy for Girls 25 10 26 12 – 73

Southwestern 6 16 4 6 – 32