With a great week of games upon us, here’s one of my favorite stories so far. Put it this way: The Mahopac Indians will bring the same uniforms, coaching staff, mentality and boisterous student section to the County Center. Just not the same players.
In fact, for a repeat semifinalist, Mahopac is a very different team. One staple of the last five seasons is the coaching staff, led by 1989 graduate Kevin Downes, who took over the head varsity job at his alma mater under unique circumstances. When Tom McMahon stepped down in September of 2007, athletic director Frank Miele’s first recommendation Phil Diasparra was denied by the board of ed. Downes was hired instead. His first meeting with the team came the Friday before his first practice. Still, the Indians are 66-36 since.
Two seniors who earned significant playing time off the bench last year, Zack Ankier and Marc Vaccaro (pictured above with their coach), said Downes’ passion and intensity had fueled them. The team needed that boost after a three-game losing streak at midseason, so Downes held a mini-boot camp to refocus them. They needed it again last Tuesday when they rallied from 18 points down to beat Arlington in double OT.
Of course, part of Mahopac’s success is the strength of one of the section’s most vociferous fan bases. The students are dubbed the “Mahopac Maniacs” and they come complete with a Twitter handle (@MahopacManiacs), a Facebook fan page and three t-shirts (white, black and blue). One of the group leaders, Nick Lovera, told me the Maniacs use social media to organize chants, outline game protocol (yes, seriously) and urge participants to join a blueout or a blackout or a whiteout.
Friday night’s mission: Get students to the County Center during the Junior Prom.
Downes, Ankier, Vaccaro, Lovera and Downes’ former coach — longtime Mahopac man Lance DeMarzo — all helped make a fun story. Give it a read and see what’s made the Indians click.
80 Comments
2 cent
The 1980 Russian Hockey team was viewed as Professional. it was a “Miracle on Ice” so I know where you’re going w/ your comparison. Ball belongs to All! But yes Neumann-Gorretti which just won the Catholic League in Philly Mon. Nite & Orlando Christian Prep which played in the Championship game I believe at the Iolani in HI are far superior at the spiort then the schools you purport so I guess they’re much better ballers as well. Hmmm I don’t remember their kids booing us or calling us overrated. Classy Comp NG & OCP were. Hope to see some of that action in a week or so
MY 3 CENTS,
MAHOPAC,FOX LANE,CLARKSTOWN SOUTH,IF YOU COMBINDED YOUR TEAMS WITH THE BEST 3 FROM EACH TEAM THE SCORE WOULD BE:
MOUNT VERNON-84 ALL THREE-60
BOTTOM LINE
This is like beating a dead horse. How many ways can all of us say that MV is the best team in the section and its not even close, period end of story. Not only are they more talented but also have that basketball savey that goes with it.I think they win by 25 just because Cimino is to classey to win by 40.
Dobbs scrimmaged Pac yesterday and here some very good things from that team. I here they will be a tough team to beat at CC.
Also not so sure Step beat up on Pac as bad as people have said . My understanding was other than the one quarter Pac held thier own. And on another note I think Step dose have an advantage over a school like Mahopac regaurdles of what is said on the blog, catholic schools recruit , go out and get the best players from different towns and counties.
Gael – is that irish for Gail, no problem females are welcome on this site. Westchester bubble, lets look at the stats, PK has beaten New Rochelle the last four years, Peekskill, Newburgh and KIngston. Most Westchester teams will not play them during the season. This was a rebuilding year. Yet the crew at PK made it to the CC. Say what you want and dis Pelham and Eastchester. PK still beat them to survive and advance. Imao u must also be a Westchester guy, thats ok once we move to section 9 and get away from your refs we will make it a regular event beating section one teams.
It will be Nice to watch our thoroughbreds run Fri. They’ve been”chompin at the bit” for far to long since NewRo a week ago. Jcirocco it will be very tough for BC aka Coach CIMMINO to hold them back nor do I hope he does. Stepinac would be a better match-up than any of the other 3 teams, but I’m fast becoming a HUGE Fox Lane fan & hope they make it. Josh can we get a “feel good” piece on the “foxes” if they Win? Go FL!!!!!
What’s up Haywood, hope you are well, we are getting close, I came here to practice my chant, “Here we go Mahopac, Here we go Mahopac, here we go, Here we go Mahopac, here we go, Here we go Mahopac, here we go, Here we go Mahopac, here we go, Here we go Mahopac, here we go,” I am ready for the County Center now!
COACH B,
I GOT YOU BEATING FOX LANE IN OVERTIME,I WILL BE AT THE COUNTY CENTER,SITTING MID COURT IN BALCONY,ABOVE SCOREBOARD,GOOD LUCK
Regaurdless of who wins this week it will be some good hoop with some much anticipated match ups.
Reality Check,
From what I understand Stepinac dosent qualify for the section 1 tourney so why bother bringing that up ? MV dosent and wont be playing Stepinac this week, now thats a ” reality check”
PAC vs Step brought it up 1st when he reported the 52-19 halftime & 81-44 final scores LOL which someohow pac fans tried to call a “competitive” scrimmage LOL. We keep track of good Catholic schools & PSAL schools because we scrimmage St Anthonys Jersey City, St Rays, CTK, Lincoln & played B&G & CTK last yr in the Feds. So when we hear about Stepinac trouncing pac in a scrimmage we Know what ya got
Reality Check,
So when college schools boo the other team you really think its that bad. Its a fan section deal with it. Brings great things to the game. Werent MV supposed to beat Mahopac last year by 30+ i dont think that happened. The crowd might have been a factor in that. Mahopac is a great community to be a part of
aa north
I’m sick of hearing we’re overrated. I’m sick of our kids being booed when they walk on the court. I’m sick of mike quick saying he’s going to the CC on Sun primarily to watch Chong in the girls final. I know our kids are special & I’ll fight for Em & defend Em every chance I get. If they run the table again this year & win the State & Feds, I’ve got to deal w/ quick pickin Em 3rd again, like last yr. Mahopac very nice, lovely up county community,etc, etc. We are a grittier bunch & we’re constantly HATED ON so have a nice tourney I hope we beat your boys decidedly & if your kids boo & call our team overrated I hope the Knights don’t let up & throttle your boys
Reality Check
Kids purposely go to Mt.Vernon to play ball obviously you guys are going to be good. If your going to cry because a student section booed you guys then i really dont know what else to say
Hey aa north
Nobody’s crying! You know what let your kids be classless & Boo the minute the Knights walk on the Court. Pac vs Step saw it & commented on how classless it was last yr. I’m sure w/ the comments I’m hearing on this blog your maniacs will boo again this yr. Like I said I hope fox lane sends ya packin fri so we don’t have to deal w/ your classless act. I’ll be cheering for FL bigtime! I’m sick of hearing from mahopac. It’s a shame Josh wrote this article. You’re a bit player in sect.1 hoops. Tuckahoe a class c school would HOUSE your kids. Time to get your lax sticks out!
Reality Check
Why do you think Cimmino never full court pressed Mahopac last year?
I think it’s time for reality check to go do something more productive with his time…enough bashing our kids who support their school…this article wasn’t written for a debate so please stop commenting unless you have something positive to say about a group of kids who are doing nothing wrong
PAC vs Step
He probably didn’t have to. MV has the depth to bury a team quick with the press. Why show all your weapons? Scouts for Newburgh were there. If he needs to get distance from an opponent I’m sure he’ll use it. I hope he comes out & buries CS w/ it on Fri & uses it ALL game if mohopac makes it to the finals!
Mohopac
I wonder why this article was written. Your team’s not defending anything. They’ve never won anything in hoops. I guess with Pok in A & NewRo out in the quarters there wasn’t much to write about. What’s good is it opened the mohopac can of worms. Not one Fox Lane person has blogged & they have Trawick. A matter if fact the one time I saw a FL post it was from a lovely woman coming to the defense of MV when some Haters were blogging. Classy folk at Fox Lane!
Reality = sports are not going to be paying the bills for 99.9% of these kids when they graduate college. Let’s all get a grip.
Don’t tell me what to do w/ my time or what to debate about. This is America & I’ll do what I want
Really miss having NewRo in the County Center for a nice Semifinal match-up. Ray Rice would always be at the Games. Then Poughkeepsie would be the next step or vice versa. The Good Old Days SMH
Reality Check
I agree, Cimmino showed a lot of class.
Yeah BC’s a Legend! They’re inducting him into the NYS Basketball Hall of Fame in Glens Falls during Championship weekend. Now there’s a FEEL GOOD story for you. BC is Basketball in the section & the State! Another reason to not take the foot off the gas! The Sunday morning of the Finals is the induction brunch. MV needs to be in the Finals! Buy a ticket Pac vs Step!
Coach John Carey is being inducted as well. Another legend who beat Cimmino in his house three years ago. Coach Carey had teams in the late 80s that were top 5 in the country.
Yo Bronx
I was at that game! We talkin All Hallows w/ Alvarado. But it wasn’t Alvarado who hit the game winna @ da buzzer Who was it? Stopped like an 11 yr home winnan streak for the Knights. Good to hear from a REAL Basketball man & not a wannabe LOL
It might of been more than an 11yr home winning streak! Whatever it was it was a STUPID number! Alvarado made 3rd team All-MAAC this yr I believe. Talk about homecourt environments. But they do it without Booing teams like All-Hallows. Kids just sit & watch & DREAM!!’
didn’t know people weren’t allowed to chant overrated. probably should stop complaining about teenagers
Can’t wait til Sun. Make sure y’all get thru. You know what your main man “Larry the Cable Guy” says y’all need to “get er done” on Fri. So our kids can wipe the floor wit ya Sun. LOLLLL!!
REALITY CHECK
LOL!!....
Just havin a Lil fun wit dem country boyz. Y’all know I’m really just jokin’ Hey do they even have the Internet up there in dem dare hills?
[...] Kevin Downes, a great guy, now coaches at Mahopac. It’s a wonderful story. [...]