Varsity Insider

The Slam Dunk resumes today at noon, but the main event will be tonight’s 8 p.m. championship game between two teams quite familiar with winning at the County Center.

The reigning Class A and Class B champs both won on Monday to advance to the first of two boys’ finals. Albertus Magnus won a tight game 59-53 over White Plains thanks to strong execution down the stretch. The Falcons scored 8 of the final 10 points after Anthony Williams tied the score at 51-51 with under three minutes to play. They received strong games from Jack Sullivan, Tyler Sayre and Pat McGuinness.

Spencer Mayfield will go for his 300th win tonight in the consolation against Poughkeepsie. White Plains also played on Monday without starting guard Ryan Brooks, who was arrested last week at the high school and charged with second-degree robbery.

In the nightcap, Byram Hills stormed in front of Poughkeepsie for good with a flawless second quarter. The Bobcats literally didn’t turn the ball over in the period, had just three for the first half and led by double digits for the majority of their 66-56 victory over last year’s Class AA runner-up.

Jeff Lynch had 24 points and five assists for Byram. Andrew Maloney and Ryan Golden each had a double-double with Maloney adding five steals. Newcomer Brian Skelly was among those who chipped in off the bench. Afterward, Lynch and Maloney said Monday night was the first game where their teamwork and camaraderie reminded them of last season. Of course, the setting probably helped.

Lastly, in Monday’s challenge game, Croton-Harmon beat Yonkers 53-24, holding the Bulldogs to single digits in three of the four quarters. Ian Thom was named the game’s MVP and said that Croton hopes Monday was simply a dress rehearsal for a return trip to the County Center.