Here’s a look at Tuesday’s action at the Slam Dunk:
• Tyler Sayre tipped in a key put back with under 30 seconds to play and was named tournament MVP after dropping 26 points in Albertus Magnus’ 64-60 victory over Byram Hills in the first of two Slam Dunk finals.
It was a meeting of reigning Section 1 champs, of course, and a few plays here or there determined it. The execution was pretty sharp in what was certainly the best game of the week so far. Sayre said afterward that his tip in was one of the few times all game where Byram failed to block him out. He made the Bobcats pay.
Jack Sullivan was terrific as well, scoring 20 points and grabbing five steals. Pat McGuinness (pictured above) also played a sharp all-around game knifing deep into Byram’s matchup zone.
Brian Skelly made several big plays throughout the game, scoring 13 points off the bench for the Bobcats. Andrew Maloney provided a double-double to go along with six assists. Their contributions helped offset a clearly hobbled Jeff Lynch.
• Earlier, White Plains slipped past Poughkeepsie 47-43 in a tight, low-scoring game that was won with a few key plays down the stretch by Anthony Williams, Akeem Williams and Mike Scotman. The Tigers earned win No. 300 at White Plains for coach Spencer Mayfield (right), who had a great sentiment afterward:
“It means I’m getting old and I’ve been around for a long time,” Mayfield said with a smile after the game. “But it’s a tribute to all my former coaches and former players, and all the hard work that they’ve put into the program.”
Mayfield, now in his 19th season at the school, later shared his thanks with the White Plains basketball community on Twitter. You certainly have to appreciate what he’s accomplished. We all know this but it bears repeating: Without Mount Vernon in the section, White Plains would have handfuls of state playoff appearances under Mayfield. The success would probably cast even more light on a coach who is widely respected as it is. No question about that.
• In the matinee, Blind Brook used size to its advantage to beat Sleepy Hollow 50-39 in a challenge game. Antoine Saliba was named the game’s MVP with 16 points and nine boards, but it was the 6-foot-4 senior and his 6-7 teammate Brendan Schaenman who controlled the paint. Schaenman chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds.
20 Comments
How close isSayer to 1000?
As successful as a program AM has been down through the years, many section 9 titles before the realignment and 2 or 3 section 1’s, i don’t believe they have ever had a 1000 point scorer for the boys. Never fit into their traditional style of team play and breaking down a team by multiple passes before a shot and execution.
Hey Josh,
First you pick WP over Albertus than you pick BH over Albertus, 0-2. I hope you are picking the Cowboys Sunday night !!!
Return to 9,
The only 1,000 point scorer I can remember is Ronnie Louis. I believe he graduated in 03-04. Kevin McGuire also came within a handful of points. He graduated in ‘06. Sayer will get it this year. I’m not exactly sure how far off he is, but he is surely close.
Congratulations to Spencer Mayfield for his 300th win. I only wish that it hadn’t come at Poughkeepsie’s expense. That said, the upside for Poughkeepsie fans is that these tournament losses may help Poughkeepsie’s young team mature more quickly than they would if they were beating weaker teams. It’s better to take some losses now against strong competition than to cruise through the season and run into a wall later. Poughkeepsie fans face the very unusual situation of supporting a team with a losing record. I can’t remember that happening before, and we’re looking forward to a turn-around.
POUKEEPSIE HAS NOT BEEN BLOWN OUT,WITH EACH CLOSE LOSS THE TEAM WILL ONLY GET BETTER,AND WILL PRESENT MORE THAN A CHALLENGE COME PLAYOFFS.
Sports guy, are you sure about Ronnie Louis. I don’ t remember him. Tom Ronan came very close back in the 80’s.
Positive..Ronnie scored his 1,000th against Dover in the sections when Dover upset AM in the first round. I remember it well.
Only 1000 point scorer at Albertus was Antoine Duvert. Antoine won a section title in the early 90’s, played with Pat Buckley current albertus girls coach and was coached by Joe Mcguinness current Albertus AD. Tom Ronan came real close in 1988 but they lost to Nyack in the section final when they had beaten them twice and were 22-0. Ronan Finished with 988 I think.
AM Grad,
Ronnie definitely got to 1,000.
AM grad,
Do you remember Ronnie Louis? How many section titles, both 9 & 1 combined does AM have?
Haywood & Po’Fan,
The reality is Pouk is just not very good this year…they had a Great Squad last year that gave MV all they wanted but lost much to Graduation..
This year even after moving down to A, they are a losing team…bottom line is they are what their record says they are…remember this, even the Good teams can get better over the course of the season.
Class A- TZ its theirs to lose!
Hooped,
Pok is not good in their standards. These close losses would probably thrill other local programs. If they were getting blown out of the gym these games I’d be more worried. If Kingston wipes the floor with New Ro like I think they will, things will get very interesting.
After MV the second and third tiers of local hoops are all within 15 points of each other so of course it is a mess right now. I guess the Pioneers have been used to winning consistently without a need to rebuild. The pipeline has been great for the last 20 years or so in Pok.
Now Laffin will have to do more with less. Very guard laden team but should make strides in the second half of this season going into sectionals if they qualify. With an addition or two which is coming, this will be an intriguing team with decent upside. Imagine if they had one of their better big men during this stretch so far, he’s coming soon and I hope his time watching his team makes him better. He [Belton] was the only player besides Dancy to score in the AA Final last year (2 Points) so it shows you how much Pok lost. A loss is a loss, but considerations all of that, the close losses don’t bother me much as long as the young men are committed to improved development moving forward.
Sorry for the typos, hope you get me though Hooped.
Statesman
Your correct, based on “their” standards these losses no matter why and who is missing are embarrassing.
Teams being within 15 points of one another? That doesnt say much??? Is “he” hurt? Why is he not playing?
Hooped.
I think it does… IMHO, TZ, Iona, Step, BH, Albertus, JFK, Mahopac, Peekskill, Clarkstown South and many others are so close to each other that it may become impossible to gauge it all until the post-season.
No, he’ll be back next week. Had to be reminded that he is not above the team and will continue to sit his senior season if he does not buy into to how Laffin wants things done as a unit.
Great Win Albertus, it’s going to be a long season but I hope you keep it up! You gained a fan last ngiht!
Statesman,
Thats a shame! that a player who is a Senior is costing his team and himself…hope it works out, but it usually does not..
Hooped,
For sure, he should know better. Especially being looked to as a leader on a team trying to gain experience and camaraderie with each other.
He actually works a decent deal on his game so it’s mind boggling to me why he couldn’t put the team first. I guess at 6’3 he sees himself as more of a perimeter player in college and doesn’t want to be down low often. I understand it, but to even put yourself in a position to even play D3 ball, you have to at least be on the court to get a look.
I’m not saying college is a lock or a stretch for him, but too many kids fail to realize that grades, attitude and ethic make the ultimate difference. To his credit, he sounds like he has learned his lesson and we can use him just to negate 2+ players getting double-digit rebounds which has happened in every game to this point. Can’t win that way.
There was a time in Pok where the Pioneers just couldn’t figure Mayfield out. Great win last night, congrats on #300. Just playing you over the years has made our program better. Cheers
Duvert got his 1000 at the center in the section final his sr year. That team won the section and lost in glens falls. The yr before they won the section with Buckley, fortune, duvert. Lost in west point to bob lazor who ended up at asu. Fortune was also in the 900’s, buckly having a big sr year kept him from the 1000. Former coach Collins didn’t like the idea of a 1000 and very few sophs ever played which made it difficult, Ronan did end with 988 and a loss to nyack at the center.