I’m on vacation this week and won’t be around until the Slam Dunk on Saturday.
It’s not a big week of games with the holidays coming, but here’s a spotlight on the next few days. Then, at the bottom, is a breakdown of how I think the Slam Dunk will play out, including the challenge games:
Monday
Roosevelt at Harrison, 6:15 p.m.: It’s been a while since Harrison basketball was truly relevent in Section 1. A win here, though, would certainly catapult the Huskies in the ranks in Class A. Roosevelt was one of my sleeper teams dropping down to A and I believe it would contend. The Huskies are hot right now, but I don’t think they’re quite ready for the athleticism of the Indians. PREDICTION: ROOSEVELT 65, HARRISON 62
Tuesday
Tappan Zee at Pearl River, 7 p.m.: If you’re going, get there early. This will be one of the most highly-attended games of the month, especially considering Pearl River handed the Dutchmen a stunning defeat at home two weeks ago. Don’t expect a repeat. It’s so difficult to beat your rival twice and I think a humbled and motivated Tappan Zee squad goes out and wins this game. PREDICTION: TAPPAN ZEE 57, PEARL RIVER 55
Lincoln Hall at Port Chester, 4:30 p.m.: From what I’ve been told, the United play exceptionally well up at Poughkeepsie last week, a game I didn’t think it was quite ready to be a factor in. Port Chester is undefeated and that gym isn’t an easy place to play. The Rams, though, haven’t seen a team that’s going to rebound and pressure the ball the way Lincoln Hall will. Port Chester is probably the better team. But Lincoln Hall will leave with a quality win. PREDICTION: LINCOLN HALL 62, PORT CHESTER 59
Irvington at Dobbs Ferry, 6 p.m.: When these teams met in the first week of the season, the veteran Bulldogs needed double OT to knock off a young Dobbs squad. The Eagles put up an impressive 20-point win at Croton-Harmon this weekend are on a roll. I’m so close to picking up an upset here but I’ll stick with an Irvington squad I’ve hyped all preseason. PREDICTION: IRVINGTON 56, DOBBS FERRY 52
Slam Dunk Challenge
Saturday
North Rockland vs. Long Island Lutheran, 6 p.m.: This is a great test for North Rockland, although it’s not one I believe it can win. Considering LuHi crushed Peekskill by 38 last week, the Red Raiders could be facing a steep uphill climb against a stellar perimeter shooting team. PREDICTION: LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN 56, NORTH ROCKLAND 49
Stepinac vs. White Plains, 8 p.m.: This game is really a matter of which Stepinac team shows up. The Crusaders started hot but have hit a skid of late. Until they find a solid option at point guard, they’re going to struggle against teams that have a good one — like Nick Cutsumpas of White Plains. His impact will be on the defensive end and Bobby Jones and Alexis Nunez will take care of the scoring. As long as Conroy Baltimore doesn’t go off, the Tigers win. PREDICTION: WHITE PLAINS 64, STEPINAC 59
Sunday
Challenge game: Edgemont vs. Pleasantville, noon: Edgemont is a good team with Billy Kreinik. But it’s simply not on Pleasantville’s level. Pleasantville has a little something to prove after last week and should do so here. PREDICTION: PLEASANTVILLE 68, EDGEMONT 57
Consolation: North Rockland vs. Stepinac, 6 p.m.: This really could be an exciting game. North Rockland is good enough defensively to match up with a team as versatile and deep as Stepinac. These games always come down to which team handles losing the previous night better. I think a veteran North Rockland team just might have a better mettle. PREDICTION: NORTH ROCKLAND 53, STEPINAC 52
Championship: White Plains vs. Long Island Lutheran, 8 p.m.: Again, the Long Island Lutheran roster and resume so far is impressive. It’s always tricky coming into the County Center and shooting well when you’re a perimeter-oriented team. Expect an MVP performance by Achraf Yacoubou in a smooth victory. PREDICTION: LONG ISLAND LUTHERAN 68, WHITE PLAINS 60
Monday
Challenge game: Harrison vs. Rye, noon: Love when a rivalry like this one is brought to the County Center floor. Most of the Garnets players were part of last year’s run to the final four in Class A and have been in this spot. Harrison has a tough week leading into this with Roosevelt and Yorktown. But they’ll be prepared for this game. PREDICTION: HARRISON 50, RYE 47
Xaverian vs. Newburgh Free Academy, 6 p.m.: With five starters back from last season’s Class AA state title team, I can’t see NFA getting knocked off here. PREDICTION: NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY 70, XAVERIAN 64
Iona Prep vs. Peekskill, 8 p.m.: The most anticipated game of the week is a rematch of last year’s Slam Dunk semifinal, which was an instant classic. I don’t know if this game will be able to live up to that one. As great as Daquan Brickhouse plays on this stage, the Gaels simply have too much firepower for Peekskill to handle. PREDICTION: IONA PREP 66, PEEKSKILL 61
Tuesday
Challenge game: Gorton vs. Kennedy, noon: Loved what I saw from Kennedy defensively last week. That style will suit them at the County Center against a Gorton team that will look to push the ball up for the floor. PREDICTION: KENNEDY 58, GORTON 50
Consolation: Peekskill vs. Xaverian, 6 p.m.: Tough call since I don’t know too much about Xaverian. The safe bet is to assume Peekskill won’t ever go 0-2 at the County Center. PREDICTION: PEEKSKILL 60, XAVERIAN 55
Championship: Iona Prep vs. Newburgh Free Academy, 8 p.m.: These teams were actually supposed to have played last week at White Plains. They finally meet here in what I think will be a tough matchup for the Iona backcourt. NFA’s guard-play is phenomenal. After what should be an exhausting up-and-down game with Peekskill, I just don’t see Iona Prep coming back 24 hours later and beating a team that plays that same style so much better. PREDICTION: NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY 68, IONA PREP 65
129 Comments
Is TZ and Albertus class A or B…...they may have a shot at pleasantville or briarcliff, but most likely NOT. if they are A …forget about it,,,,
Albertus is class B and Tappan Zee is class A. They would both smack up Pleasantville and Briarcliff.
sorry dude,,
Briarcliff nad pleasantville will beat hell out of TZ and pidly AB..Nice try though ,,throw in pearl river also..all three STINK this year
Yeah get real…
Briarcliff, Pleasantville and Woodlands would smack the crappy Rockland teams of Pearl River, Albertus Maximus and Tappan Zee six ways to SUNDAY. IT doesn’t matter what class they are in. Rockland can not compete this year as usual..
dobbs fan,
yeh thats a great reason for heckling a kid, gettin in a dangerous car accident. hope the kid with the signs got a bat taken to his car in the parking lot
Didn’t Tappan Zee beat up briarcliff in a 5 quarter scrimmage. not saying this would be the case in a game, because I am not as ignorant as Q, but I think TZ took 4 of 5 quarters. If somebody has it different please correct me.
Sorry DUDE!
Congrats to TZ on winning the tourney. Nice job.
Mr. ??????????????????
If U represent P-ville, you guys are delusional. Your only decent competition is Portchester, who you are scared of!!! Six foot this and six foot that smacking you guys around…... all the while trying to get back to your cup cake schedule. Alb Magnus is legit, Pr and Houston would have their way with you, and so would Zee. Know your role shut your mouth, squeeked by b-cliff, be happy. : )
?
for the record,i also paid for 4 other students who did not play sports.the mount has a SAMS program who help needy students, period.i was lucky to have the last student who played BB and we still try to help him.i saw a good kid get a chance to go foward and he is doing better than i could have dreamed of.with coach FraherAND MSM this would not have happen.
Im a Rockland guy, but there isnt a team over here that will compete for a Gold Ball this year. Spring Valley will come the closest. North Rockland is overrated, they would get smoked by Mount, New Ro, etc. TZ just wont be able to compete physically or athletically with the really good teams. Nanuet and Albertus could always contend in B, but I just don’t think it is the year for either of them.
mrvolo:
in all honesty i think that’s great that you do that. hopefully there are more people out there like you willing to give back. especially these days!
there is no point in continuing the conversation because people/bloggers are going to perceive the schools they support the way they want.
i just have one quick news flash for mount st. michael / iona prep / stepinac – all of you recruit and find ways to help kids out financially – that’s a fact!
merry christmas to all!
The sports guy
That is a fair assessment at this point of the season. It will take some major improvement for any, to really make a run across the river. But their mostly young, and it’s still early. Defense was missing at the PR tourney, and coaching response to the offensive displays was non existent. It is finally a very good thing Rockland vs Rockland has returned on a larger scale for fan watching. Why did it take an economic collapse to have it back. Also the Journal News had it wrong, Pat Peterson with some sharp passing and scoring against PR and 30 points in final versus Magnus on day 2 was not the MVP of the tourney.
Roc On,
You’re right, I believe Ryan O’Rourke took home the MVP honors, but Peterson is a STUD. It’s just a matter of him keeping his head in the game as their are always rumors he’s battling with the coaches and threatening to walk away. I agree about the Rockland vs Rockland games. Some rivalries will be renewed and all the games seem like they have greater intensity. You’re right about the teams being so young. Albertus, Nanuet, South, and TZ all have sophmores making major contributions for their teams. Hopefully we will see improvement as the year goes along and a team can step up to make some noise in the sections.
The Sports Guy, what sophomores does Nanuet have contributing?
I must have mispoke for Nanuet, I meant that they have some younger players, like Brezovsky contributing. If I’m not mistaken (again), I believe he is only a junior.
Even Valhalla handled Nanuet..Iknow, i know it was Nanuets’ first game after coming off a long football season. They beat them last year also. I think that the town of Mt. Pleasant has three teams (P’ville, Briarcliff and Valhalla) that will comptete for Gold Balls. And lets not forget Hawthorne Cedar Knolls (also within a couple of miles of each of the other schools) is a lock for the class D Gold Ball. This little piece of central Westchester has some great Bbasketball being played this winter. MERRY CHRISTMAS
Pville would own any team in Rockland you guys are terrible and Voelkel was recruited by Iona and Iona would be nothing without him
I was told Peekskill scrimmaged Pleasantville yesterday.. anyone know how it went?
Pat Peterson is a great kid and he couldnt get along better with coaches and players and thats a fact Please dont comment on what you have no idea on please it is ignorant and disrespectful BY the way pr tournament was great albertus will compete in b Tz and pr will be solid good defense and disciplined players.
I didn’t comment one way or the other. I just said it was a rumor.
irv,
it wasnt that serious of a crash becuz if it was im pretty sure the dobbs fans wuldnt of done it, im pretty sure irvington is way worse then dobbs they wuld of done somethin to the extreme so stop tryin to bag on dobbs
pville fan
I find it funny that some small time clown is questioning what Iona would be without one player-Just enjoy your success in section 1 class b. Voelkel obviously made the smart decision to attend Iona Prep.
i agree with sports guy. all those sophomores are making big contributions but dont forget about wilson and clinton from pr. wilson was a huge spark off the bench for pr at tz the first game and has been one of the best 6th man in rockland this year. clinton has started the last couple of games and played very well at point guard distributing the ball to shooters like houston and davis. all these schools will be very competitive over the next three years with albertus- mcguinness, sayre tz-peterson, donahue south- mccahey, tucek pearl river- wilson, clinton
After reading all these comments on sophomores in rockland, it could only get me to thinking..the class of 2012 will be a force to be reckon with in a couple of years..if im not mistaken, albertus,pearl river,south,ramapo,and tz all have 3 spohomores each..a total of 15 underclassmen from one year is pretty impressive
I forgot to mention the guys from Pearl River because I didn’t know how old they were. You are right though! I saw them the other night and if they can grow just a bit and add some meat to their bones, Pearl will be a good team in Rockland for the next few years.
yes that is true neither are big kids but they make up for that with their basketball IQ both know how to play
i just have to say i used to think the pearl river student section was not one of, but the best student sections in section 1. after what i heard them chanting on tuesday nights game the school should be embarresed. the coach, parents, and principal should be ashamed. as a parent myself i know how i would feel if i was that boys parents and teamates. the school should have a meeting to tel the students how low and uncalled for that was. just because tz was winning they had nothing else to say but that. on the other hand i like how tz fans and players responded. first of the person who they were chanting about was upset you could see that, but his teamate i don know the name but number 3, went and comforted him and then number 1 i believe was joe letizia did the same. and to the tz fans for not retaliating with chants. you could tell all adults with morals were shaking there heads in disbelief at what was happening no matter they were tz or pr. i know this wouldnt be aloud at tz with there principal stopping any profane stuff and albertus joe mcguiness stopped all bad stuff. but pr should be ashamed and embarresed at what happened. im truly happy that tz beat pr just because this reason.
your absolutely right immaturity at its finest
What was this inappropriate chant?
I second DARREN DOUGLAS (RCDS)-
He is one of the best sophomores-GUARDS around. This kid can play. He can shoot, drive and he is very consistent…People should come take a look at the RCDS team.DD is a definite D1 look after seeing him play many times!! RCDS also has another good sophomore-guard Garret Washington, a transfer from White Plains High School, he knows how to put the ball in the basket and he can play some defense..Keep an EYE on him.!! Alex Gendlemam also a sophomore-Guard is pretty good. He is very inconsistent but he can give you some points. This trio is young/talented and we all should keep an eye on them…!!