Day 5 recap
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- February
- 28
I’m not going to lie. I’m exhausted.
Championship Week has a way of taking a major toll on me and tonight’s games didn’t help. North Rockland-Poughkeepsie was good one. But Lakeland’s win over Rye was tough to watch because of the constant whistles and both teams’ inability to get in a flow offensively. Mix in a pair of lopsided girls games and Day 5 at the County Center hardly compared to any of the first four.
We didn’t even get any controversy! How am I supposed to keep this blog going now?
Before I head off to sleep (I’m partially there now), let’s look back on tonight’s two games:
Poughkeepsie 47, North Rockland 42
For North Rockland to have the ball down three with 10 seconds left against a team as good as Poughkeepsie is remarkable. Few gave the Red Raiders, a team with 10 underclassmen rotation, a chance to win this game. Yet had they been able to execute the inbounds, it could have had a 3-point attempt to tie at the buzzer.
North Rockland coach Chris Roff had a great outlook after the game. He knew he can’t “be greedy” with this year’s group and be disappointed it didn’t reach the Class AA final, not with a team this young. But he felt this was a great starting off point for next season, which he believes could realistically be a championship one.
Poughkeepsie got quite a scare, like Mount Vernon did, and for similar reasons. It’s one thing to be losing in the fourth quarter against an opponent you know you’re more talented than. It’s another when your shots aren’t falling and the score is stuck in the 40s. The fewest points Poughkeepsie scored before today was 63. Mount Vernon consistently scores in the 80s and had only 54 against Yorktown.
What sort of championship game does this set up? I think a very good one. There’s no way both of these teams come out and play this sluggish again. Both were probably looking ahead to Sunday and a chance at winning a championship.
Dayvone Whitaker didn’t play great in the first half, scoring just two points before putting up 14 in the second. Nate Gause and Elijah McLaurin, the sophomores, each played well late, and Brandon James made a clutch shot in the fourth to get the momentum going. Poughkeepsie finished strong and it left confident. That’s most important.
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Lakeland 51, Rye 40
Of all the teams that made it the County Center this week, Rye might have been the biggest longshot in the preseason.
I spoke to Garnets coach Chris DiCintio for quite a while after the game and he couldn’t help but smile when discussing this group. I remember running into him in a restaraunt back in November and he ran down a whole list of question marks he had for this year’s team. The players responded to every one and got as much out of their talent and effort as any team in the section. Maybe more than any.
Garnets senior Matt O’Neill had 17 points and walked off the court in the final minute to the Rye crowd chanting his name. He deserved it. He didn’t have his best shooting game — nobody on Rye did actually — but he played his heart out. All of the Garnets did. They didn’t lose tonight because of a lack of effort, that was for sure.
Lakeland was clearly the better team. Based on what I saw, I actually couldn’t understand how it could have lost to Rye in the regular season. DiCintio pointed to the fact Gary Austin was just getting comfortable with his new team and that Rye shot the ball extremely well. The Garnets could have really used shooting guards Brian Mintz (injury) and Clark Antico (suspension) tonight. But I don’t think it’s why they lost.
The Hornets have some real talent in Chris Fazio, Lavor Morris, Austin, Chris Jennings and Paul Ljuljdjuraj (pronounced LA-JU-DIE). When they put it all together and share the basketball, they’re very good. But they stray from that too much and freelance. Surely, they’ll be on the same page against Peekskill in the championship knowing it could get ugly otherwise.
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Off to sleep. Got a big day tomorrow.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, February 28th, 2009 at 1:08 am by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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the lakeland score was 57-42
Great game North Rockland, I could have sworn I saw Suffern uniforms on the way you had me flashbacking…
If nothing else, the lesson Poughkeepsie and Mount Vernon learned over the past couple of days was: “You can’t get to Point B without going past Point A.” Thankfully, we ended up with the anticipated MV-PK Championship, but Yorktown and North Rockland were determined not to just roll over and let it happen. It coud have just as easily been those teams squaring off on Sunday…
P.S. Apparently the “Devaney Curse” has been broken. (Just kidding, Kevin.
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Kevin..you do a Great Job !!...You make championship alot of fun ! GO PIONEERS !!!!!!!
Oops..I meant “Championship week”...LOL !!
Rye had two kids out that could of been a huge difference.
Statesman’s right. I sat there with memories of PK’s loss to Suffern, several years ago, flooding back. North Rockland, like Suffern, didn’t allow PK to get into its usual fast-pace groove. It was a great win for PK, but it wasn’t a great game for them overall. Compliments to North Rockland for holding down PK for so long, and to PK for coming through at the end.
Congrats to Matt O’Neil on a terrific career. He’s a first class kid and should be proud of the way he played and acted all year.
Kevin, I think you hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the Rye-Lakeland game. First off, congratulations to Lakeland, and I hope you pull off a major upset tomorrow night. My real point in posting, though, is to congratulate the Rye coaches and players for an incredibly fun and exciting season. You all made Rye proud by your efforts and accomplishments throughout the season. You never gave up in any game and as a result pulled off some improbable wins. I especially want to congratulate the seniors, Clark Antico, Tommy Kehlenbeck, Pat O’Callaghan, David Mintz, and of course, the incomparable Matt O’Neill. You will be missed, but your legacy will always be remembered.
Sick Senior Class for Rye.
Kevin,
Thank you and The Journal News for the outstanding coverage all year of the high school basketball scene. You made the season very special for all players, coaches, parents, and b-ball fans.
I also want to recognize Coach DiCintio of Rye High School. As a father of one of the players i came to realize that Coach D was the “x-factor” that resulted in these young men achieving more than expected through not only his expertise in game strategy but his emphasis on teamwork and effort.
Coach D hit the 100 win milestone in the playoff win versus Harrison. Good luck in your next 100 Coach!
rye missing two players in the game hurt alot. I know what you bring to the game is who you play with. But do you think if Lakeland were missing two key players that contributed all year like Fazio or Austin that they still would of won. Probably Not. It makes a huge difference when your missing two kids that combined for about 55 Three Pointers. A perimeter game is essential and Rye didnt have that last night and it hurt. But Good luck to lakeland Tomm.
dicintio is not a good coach, look at his teams over the years, he got very lucky this year
who is #20 on lakeland?
Dicintios A great coach. Got his 100th Win this season. pretty good for a young coach like him.