YMA Lady Eagles Takes the Opening Game of the 2026 Westchester Slam Dunk - Crusader Tournament

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Jan 2
2 min read

Updated: Jan 3

by Warren Rosenberg, MetroSports Magazine - January 2, 2026

The 2026 Westchester County Slam Dunk - Crusader Classic, the county’s premier high school basketball showcase, opened today at the Westchester County Center. The opening game pitted the girls varsity teams of the Yonkers Montessori Academy Lady Eagles against the Ardsley High School Panthers.

The YMA Lady Eagles came into the game with a 6-0 season record and the pedigree of being the current state-wide 2025 NYSPHSAA Section 1 Class B Champions and the 2021, ’22, ’23., ’24, and ’25 Yonkers City Champions.

Above: Players and coaches from the Yonkers Montessori Academy Lady Eagles before the start of the game.

While both teams came prepared to play and conducted themselves agressively on the court, the YMA Lady Eagles took charge of the game at the opening tip-off setting the stage for what was to come. The Lady Eagles’ Grace Gleeson put the first points on the board with subsequent scoring by Emilee Doherty, Arsela Mustafaj, Liliana Toro, and Jev’Vaeh Thompson. Mia Stanton put the first points on the board for the Ardsley Panthers in the first quarter which ended with a 17-2 Lady Eagles Advantage.

Above: Lady Eagles' Grace Gleeson (#3) takes the opening tip off to start the game. Below: Emilee Doherty (#2) on her way to a lay-up.

Ardsley fought back well in the second quarter putting 11 points on the board but failing to defend well against the YMA Lady Eagles who scored an additional 20 points in the quarter. Things were a bit more even in the third quarter with Ardsley sinking 16 points against YMA’s 19 points.

Above: Ardsley's Madison Bortstein (#2) going up against YMA's Anisa Mustafaj (#1).

Ardsley fought back well in the fourth quarter scoring 8 points and holding the Lady Eagles to just 9, their lowest scoring quarter of the game, but, in the end the YMA Lady Eagles defeated the Ardsley Panthers by a final score of 65-37 and bringing the 2025-26 season record to a still undfeated 7-0.