NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Bill Agronin always had faith in the O’Donohue twins. The Niagara University women’s basketball coach recruited Becky and Jessie, who lived downstate, to attend NU in 1998. The girls ended up being four-year starters.



“They were really big assets of our program,” the coach said.



But it wasn’t just basketball to which he refers. Both girls excelled in academics and were team leaders, showing the work ethic needed to be on top.



If all that wasn’t enough, the girls opened some of their games by singing the national anthem.



Agronin knew those talents would guide them somewhere big. While Jessie missed out on her chance due to a throat infection, according to the university, Becky is well on her way — and all of Western New York can help her get there.



Becky was one of 24 semi-finalists for “American Idol,” FOX’s singing talent show that made Kelly Clarkson a Grammy-winning singer and regular folks like Fantasia and Carrie Underwood a lot of money.



Agronin talked to Becky on Feb. 16 — the day after America found out she made the semi-finals — as she started rehearsing for her first live performance in Hollywood.



“She’s excited, and we’re excited for her,” he said.



The girls have been in this spot before. They appeared in a twins-themed episode of NBC’s gross-out reality show “Fear Factor” that aired Jan. 5, 2004. They were eliminated after the first event, according to the show’s Web site.



Early odds from pinnaclesports.com made O’Donohue a long shot. She was a 45-to-1 shot to win it all on the gambling Web site. Judge Simon Cowell was mixed on her chances after Tuesday’s performance.

On Thursday night her singing dreams came to a halt as she was voted off the show.



“Your looks I would give a 10,” he said. “Your performance I would give about a 6.5.”



Denver-based rocker Ace Young is the early favorite at 7-to-2. The female with the best odds is Katharine McPhee of Los Angeles (4-to-1).



Becky, 25, received a communications degree in 2002. She’s working for an entertainment company and as a waitress in City Island, which is in the Bronx. In four years at Niagara, she started 112 games, registering 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She served as a captain her junior and senior seasons.



Agronin remains close to both sisters, talking to them at least once per month. He tuned in some to “Idol” last season, but has quickly become a loyal viewer — as has much of the Purple Eagle family.



“When (Becky) told me this past spring that she tried out and had advanced, I vowed I would watch every episode,” the coach said.



Paul Lane writes for the Niagara (N.Y.) Gazette.