Championship breakdown: Class AA and A
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- February
- 28
Well here we are: The best day of the season.
Class AA championship
Who: No. 1 Mount Vernon (19-3) vs. No. 3 Poughkeepsie (20-2)
When: Sunday, noon
How they got here: Mount Vernon beat Roosevelt and Lincoln to get to the County Center and rallied to beat Yorktown, 54-47, in the semifinals. Poughkeepsie defeated Mamaroneck and New Rochelle in the first two rounds, before defeating North Rockland 47-42 to reach the final.
Regular season meetings: They didn’t meet.
Key matchup: Sherrod Wright of Mount Vernon vs. Brandon James of Poughkeepsie. The Dayvone Whitaker-Jabarie Hinds matchup will be fun to watch. But the Wright-James one will dictate the outcome. Wright is the best player in Section 1 and James just might be the most underrated. James can hurt opponents from the perimeter and is a force on the block. If this game is close late, expect these two to be tangled up for loose balls on every possession.
How Mount Vernon can win: Pass, dribble, shoot. Sounds basic, right? Well, that’s all the Knights have to do to be successful. As the Yorktown game proved, they must move the ball better and protect it more. And the overall shot selection and execution has to be better. Mount Vernon doesn’t often score only 54 points in a game. And it can’t expect to keep winning if it does.
How Poughkeepsie can win: Take away the interior. Whether it means playing a zone with three men in the paint or making all five crash the boards, the Pioneers must make Mount Vernon beat it from the outside. Jabarie Hinds and Jordan Lessane struggled shooting for the Knights, who made up for it with second- and third-opportunities. Limit those and the Pioneers have a chance.
Who will win: As is the case pretty much every season, this is Mount Vernon’s title to lose. Poughkeepsie has played so well of late, highlighted by wins over New Rochelle and Peekskill. But Mount Vernon now has a point to prove after a near-disaster to Yorktown. And I’m confident the Knights are going to prove it.
Prediction: Mount Vernon 75, Poughkeepsie 69
Class A championship
Who: No. 1 Peekskill (21-1) vs. No. 2 Lakeland (17-4)
When: Sunday, 7:15 p.m.
How they got here: Peekskill beat Spring Valley in the quarters and romped Pearl River, 91-37, in the semifinals. Lakeland defeated Beacon and Pelham in the first two rounds before beating Rye, 51-40, to reach the final.
Regular season meetings: They didn’t play.
Key matchup: Daquan Brickhouse of Peekskill vs. Gary Austin of Lakeland. Austin is the quick, physical guard who can put a body on Brickhouse and make him work. Nobody has been able to stop Peekskill’s point guard all season. If Austin can at least keep the ball out his hands, Lakeland’s upset bid becomes realistic.
How Lakeland can win: Slow the tempo. Lakeland is a team that is so good at getting out in transition and scoring in bunches. That is, of course, when it’s not playing Peekskill. Nobody plays that style better than Peekskill and the Hornets shouldn’t even try to match it. Since they have the ball-handlers to handle the pressure, Lakeland’s best bet is slowing down the pace and be aggressive on the glass. Trying to outrun Peekskill simply won’t work.
How Peekskill can win: Get to the rim. When Brickhouse settled for jumpers against Spring Valley, he had one of his worst halves of a game this season. When he penetrates like he did against Pearl River, there’s almost no stopping in. Brickhouse thrives off taking his man one-on-one. Cutting down the lanes and forcing him to take jumpers is vital.
Who will win: Peekskill. Based on what I saw the other night against Pearl River, this is a team is a speeding train. Once again, the Red Devils are on a mission.
Prediction: Peekskill 79, Lakeland 63
This entry was posted
on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 7:23 am by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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kevin
let me be the first to say thanks for all the effort you put in to this website and creating an arena for all to voice an opinion and their feelings about local high school basketball. There are some very informative people out there who give great input about teams, players and coaches preparing us for games and that really helps. Those knowledgeable people far outway the prozac popping parents trying to relive their unsuccessful attempts at playing the game just for the fun of it. As each team gets knocked out, more and more bloggers walk away without saying thanks for all your hard work, and especially your input. I think I speak for quite a few, thanks and keep up the hard work.
Regardless of the results of tomorrow’s AA Championship, let’s just hope both teams play better games than they did in the Semi-Finals. County Center is the Mecca of Westchester H.S basketball, and I expect Sunday’s match-up to leave another memorable game to talk about in years to come. I believe Sharrod Wright will leave a closing statement on his carrer, but sometimes, these games are when the quiet guy steps up and plays the game of his life. Go MV, and thanks again.
KEVIN,
You mention that these games are today. Did I miss something? They’re tomorrow, aren’t they?
I want to second the thanks that spacecadet offered you for your tremendous efforts to cover the area’s high school basketball teams. I’m especially grateful for the attention that you’ve brought Poughkeepsie, which has sometimes gotten lost in the shuffle in the past. It’s an outstanding program, year after year, and you’ve helped to highlight their success. Again, thanks for your hard work.
Space…well said. Kevin thanks for all that you do. Your passion for HS sports is without question shown through your work!
I have to agree with both of your predictions. With MV, I think they may be too much for POK down low. Odayne Clark may be the difference here. I also noticed in POKs game yesterday they were a little slow side to side on the half court defensive set. This equated to open 3’s. If Hinds, Lassane and Wright are on, it could spell trouble. On the reverse, Whitaker can take over games..so you can’t count out POK. Whitaker maybe one of the best passing guards around. He always finds the open man, but the only problem I have with him is he is too UNSELFISH! He is a scorer, and needs to believe that. He can be too tentative at times. Not saying be a ball hog, but make sure the offense goes through you. Hes too good to not touch the ball almost every time down….
With Peekskill..they are too deep, too athletic and too experienced. They roll here.
Look forward to an exciting final
HRs
I don’t think its possible for Odayne to play any worse then he did Thursday, so thats a safe call. Jorden is in a big time slump for the last month and it would be great to see him snap out of it. I liked what Andre Gaynor brought to the court against Yorktown and I hope he gets a shot. My dark horse is Kadeem Dingham, he’s stepping up during primetime. Reminds me a little of a kid named Danellio Huthchins a few years back. Hinds might have shown he is still a little too young. Sunday’s a whole new day.
Space…good points. WIth Clarke, I jsut am thinking he will be so much strongerand needs to throw his weight around. Jorden will have open shots, he needs to hit em.. With Hinds..his goal should be to shut down Whitaker. Leave the scoring to the others.
I am anxious to watch Whitaker on this stage. Last year he wasnt the go to guy. If MV presses(which I am assuming they will) Whiatker could shred it, so they must key on him and attack the others
Can’t wait till tomorrow.
Hey Kev great job on the stories bud. I was just wondering if you knew that there is a teacher student matchup in the A championship game too. I know that Tim Strang is not the head coach but from what i understand he and the other coaches have a lot of input on game stuff. I know that coach Strang plaed under Panzannaro ( sorry about the spelling) and won 3 or 4 sectional titles here, 2 regional titles, 2 State championships and and 1 Federation title. I think that it is a great accomplishment to be able to play on this floor and also to coach on it, it has to be a good feeling. I hope that no matter what happens on the court Sunday that all the kids have fun, i know that there is all this talk about Watts with Lakeland a few years back and how they felt betrayed by that. Lakeland has moved on everyone wished Ralph well and they are all still friends, but come gametime tomorrow there are no friends till after the game. Good luck to all and thank you Kev for being the great journalist that you are!!!
Nice. Good Luck to everyone in the title games!!!!
HRs,
I think McLaurin and Gause are key… If they both can hit outside shots and penetrate then PK is really tough to beat. The ball will probably be in McLaurin’s hands vs the MV press… As great as Whitaker is, his Achilles Heel is his ball handling. He must improve on that in order to play at the highest level of colleigate basketball… He isnt just a slasher anymore, he can now shoot the ball very effectively. Once he gets his dribble better look out guys. If McLaurin and Gause come up big, with Dennard defending, getting rebounds, putbacks while staying out of foul trouble it should be great. PK always wants MV bad, last year the injuries just made it too difficult for them to compete with the Knights. I’m hoping for a great one and for PK to finally break the curse it has against the Knights of MV… Good luck all, stay safe and let’s have a good one!!!
States..well said. You know as much as nybody when it comes to POK. Good luck!
Thanks HRs, you always show Pok love… I have to find something fun to do up here to take my mind off the the game tomorrow so time wont drag haha… Thanks for the good luck wish, we have the Devaney curse on our side too- I don’t even know if that’s enough vs a team of MV’s caliber…
States. You are more than welcome. Honestly I feel if Whitaker is on and James stays out of foul trouble, they will be in great shape. James also needs to stay away from shooting the 3. He will miss more than make and the misses will create fast break opportunites. Your young guys are a bonus if they produce! Coach L needs to institute some weight lifting to his team..In a way I am teasing, but boy are they skinny!
Dont be surprised that the best game in the championship is Peekskill/Lakeland.Lakeland has very good athletes that can stay with Peeksill.I think the difference in the game will be if Lakeland can contain Brickhouse and if they can which i think they will its going to be a great game
Lakeland 62
Peekskill 58
I think this final will be well played. Two really good teams, should be a war. I think Whitaker and Wright will play well and it will come down to whos supporting cast plays well to determine the winner.
Actually, HRs, I think PK’s players will probably pick up weight as they mature; McLaurin and Gause are still sophomores…
To Kevin: As always, your hard work and passion for high school athletics is greatly appreciated. The fact that you have done a better job of covering Poughkeepsie than its hometown paper pretty much says it all; unless I’m missing something, there is NO mention of the PK-North Rockland game on the Poughkeepsie Journal’s website. (Not even a photo gallery.)
In any case, may the best team win tomorrow, and may that team be the Pioneers.
Jeff, Hrs:
The Journal originally said Pok defeated North Salem, much to my dismay… Gause and McLaurin are both 15, not many 15 year olds have much muscle def unless they’re playing football and are developing fast for their age… They have time and are still growing into their bodies- we see that with how doofy they both look at times haha… They’re going to be very good by the time they leave Pok… Jeff, you actually have to search Pok-NR in the search engine to find an article for the game… Disapointing how the 9-21 Marist Red Fox men’s team can get a blurb right after the game ended… Disapointing, but at least we have Kevin!!!
I expect MOUNT VERNON to come out like they did in the SNY tornament and if they do lookout.They never ever play bad back to back games. SCORE MOUNT VERNON-68 PK-60 enjoy the game.
To all the teams in the finals, GOOD LUCK!. Remember it is an accomplishment just to get there. Memories that will last a lifetime. Play to your abilities and the best team will prevail. And to the Lakeland fans, be proud that BOTH the Girls’ and Boys’ team are there. Come out and cheer them on! Thanks Kevin for all you do. TOMORROW @ the COUNTY CENTER!
Starting 5 MV-PK Checklist
McLaurin vs. Lessane= Almost even, If Jordan is on, “Momma there goes that man.”- Had to throw in a Mark Jackson quote, sorry- haha…
Whitakker vs Hinds= Hinds is going to get his work in vs. Whitaker, they might fight each other to a tie in this duel… Can Whitaker match Hinds’ speed and tenactiy for 32 minutes? That much is remained to be seen… Hinds by a nose, but if Whittaker is in the zone look out guys
Gause Vs. Wright- James wont see much time vs. Wright… Wright is too athletic, espect to see Gause shadowing Wright alot… Wright takes this battle by head and shoulders… Wright has been doing this for 4 years, Gause is only 15- Age will be the factor in this one, if Gause can try keep Wright around 20-25 then it might be a good day for Pok… The thing about MV is last year they had Wright AND Jones, who is going to step up and score 20 to kill PK like they did last year? I dpn’t see that person right now, so I think this result will be tons closer…
Dennard vs Clarke- Tie, they are the same kind of hardnosed hustling big men who are not expected to score much. They will battle the boards and defend… If either scores more than 12 or so that could be a determining factor
James Vs. Allen?= James is a polished big man who has been playing in big games since he was a Soph at Pok. He matured from a Dennard/Clarke kind of player into one of the more polished big men in all of Section 1… Allen is a hound and a beast on the boards, if James can do his work and get his double double vs this caliber player PK should be able to keep it close…
Peekskill 72
Lakeland 55
Poughkeepsie 74
Mt Vernon 67
62-58 Lakeland??? You gotta be kidding me.. If they stop Brickhouse we still have Watts who trust me ladies and gentleman WILL show up to play in this game. What better than to have your best game against the school you last attended.. Peekskill wins 70-52..
In addendum to my starting 5 post:
MV’s bench is deeper than Pok’s… However, PK’s bench isnt as bad as they may seem… It sohuld be interesting regardless though..
hinds looked so frustrated in the semis, i think he’s gona break out tomorrow. the kid is to good to let it affect his game. he’s been playing here since he was in 8th grade. he’s played with coburn, jones, and now wright. he’ll know what to do and how to get it done soon enough
As I said, Lakeland has some good athletes, I like Watts alot but if Fazio is ready to play he can handle him defensively.
THANKS to all who gave and those that prayed.MOUNT VERNON BOYS and GIRLS will show that all the help in keeping sports alive in our city was a GOOD investment GO KNIGHTS
Actually, Pok is the only team in Dutchess County that does any lifting. They don’t have a personal strength coach like Mt. vernon.
Re my earlier post…
I stand corrected; the Poughkeepsie Journal did have a story on the Poughkeepsie-North Rockland game in its print edition…
[...] Devaney said today’s game could be a classic. The key for Knights, he said, is to execute better than they did on Thursday and to get production inside. His prediction: a 75-69 Mount Vernon win and another Gold Ball for the Knights. [...]
I was kind of teasing about the pOK kids being so skinny, but I actually think the aspect of proper strength training should be taken more serious. Todays core training methods are amazing. Sherrod Wright is an example of what it truly can do to a kid. You do not need to pay a strength trainer. You can rsearch it on line and attempt to institute an off season work out..but its really on the players themselves. In my gym, I see many teams buying into this from college baseball, HS football, etc. I do ot myself and I am way out of HS and college