In Staten Island, St. Peter’s is known for its dominance in girls basketball. Before Tuesday's game vs. Moore Catholic, it had won 34 consecutive league games against Staten Island opponents dating back to 2008.

The streak is over.

No. 5 Moore Catholic finally ended No. 4 St. Peter's winning streak as it hit some clutch shots late in the fourth quarter to win at home, 52-50, Tuesday night in Staten Island.

“Congratulations to them because that is an unbelievable streak,” Moore head coach Rich Postiglione said. “That is an accomplishment speaks for itself, but frankly tonight is about Moore.”

HOW THE GAME WAS WON: The last time these two teams played each other it was a wide-open offensive game, but Tuesday night was almost the exact opposite. This was a slow, methodical and defensive game.

“Last game was a ridiculous game,” Postiglione said. “I wouldn’t even call it basketball. We just ran up and down the court and traded baskets for 32 minutes. It’s really amazing that this game got to 52-50 because the game was really a 40-38 game.”

The difference was mostly was due to Moore’s gym which is incredibly small and has fans right up against the foul line. It really kept either team from playing a fast-paced offense as there was little room to maneuver at times. It was particularly effective in slowing down St. Peter’s Christine Kline.

“The way you deal with Kline is take away the open floor,” Postiglione explained. “What Christine is tremendous at is making plays. She’s usually looking for open lanes and quick drives off turnovers. With the smaller court we limited that a little bit with her.”

In a slower-paced game, Moore Catholic (17-2) thrived. St. Peter’s (12-5) didn’t do so poorly either though. They lead the game 11-8 after one, and 25-19 after two, but because of the pace of the game they were never able to shake Moore. Even when St. Peter's built up a 10-point lead in the second quarter, Moore’s sisters Christina Rubin and Gabriella Rubin hit back to back three pointers to keep their team in the game.

St. Peter’s inability to put Moore away when they had their chances came back to haunt it because in the fourth quarter Moore switched to a zone defense that was particularly effective. In the final quarter, St. Peter’s hit only two field goals and tmissed seven shots from the line. The combination almost invited Moore to take this game.

TURNING POINT: When St. Peter’s still had a 40-35 lead with 2:37 left in the fourth quarter, Gabriella Rubin banked a desperation three-point shot that got her team, and the crowd, back in it. With the fans nearly out of control, Rubin hit another three pointer just 42 seconds later that tied the game 41-41.

Moore’s Taylor Baggs scored off a turnover just 22 seconds later and when Taylor Robertson made two free throws with 55 seconds left, the game was all but over.

STAR OF THE GAME: Gabriella Rubin only scored nine points and was outscored by her older sister Christina, who had 14 points, but Rubin’s three three-point shots were all clutch shots. Without a single one of them Moore couldn’t have won this game.

The first three pointer kept St. Peter’s from running away with the game in the first half and her two in the fourth quarter got her team pumped up and demoralized the opposition.

“Gabby (Rubin) made it a little easier,” Baggs said. “To know that we have an automatic shooter, if she’s set we just kick it out to her and we know we got it.”

QUOTE: “We persevered, we stayed together and our defense was really outstanding in the last quarter. Our defense was up to the task. It always comes down to that. I thought our man-to-man did a very good job in the last quarter. There were a lot of fouls and it was really important.”--Postiglione

UP NEXT: Moore goes to St. Joseph Hill for a matchup this Thursday.