Transfer Laron Holt had a big day (15 points, 14 rebounds) in his first game as a Red Devil as Peekskill beat Poughkeepsie 70-59 in the Daniel “Butterfly” Washington Showcase at Newburgh.
The 6-foot-5 junior transferred to Peekskill from John F. Kennedy in New York in the spring of last year.
Holt wasn’t the only big man to put up solid numbers. Peekskill forwards Musheed Mahammad (10 points, 10 rebounds), Neorck Brown (12 points, six rebounds) and Anthony Guerrero (six points, eight rebounds) all helped the Red Devils dominate the Pioneers in the paint and limit their second-chance opportunities.
“Everyday during practice we to hit the boards,” Holt said. “That saves games.”
The Red Devil backcourt also did their part. Chavis Pigott had 12 points while Ramon Searight added 10.
Balanced play is what Peekskill coach Lou Panzanaro expects this year considering the make up of his team.
“I said to them, ‘There is nobody here that’s going to Duke, Kansas or Indiana, we got to rely on each other and trust each other,’” Panzanaro said. “We’re going to be a team-scoring team. We don’t have a star.”
The win comes against a Poughkeepsie team that returned all but three of its players from last year’s run to the sectional final where the Pioneers fell to eventual state runner-up Tappan Zee.
Poughkeepsie, led by Jermar Dancy with 21 points, was without Ray Knight and Brandon Weir, two of last year’s starters, both out with injuries.
Poughkeepsie coach Brian Laffin didn’t view that as an excuse though.
“I think we had enough to get it done without that,” said Laffin of missing his the two starters. “Credit to Peekskill’s aggressiveness and us not executing.”
While the Red Devils played far from a perfect game, committing what Panzanaro estimates to be around 30 turnovers, opening the season with a win against one of the favorites in Class A in the section isn’t a bad way to start.
“Great win,” Panzanaro said. “Great way to start the season. I’m sure both of us are going to get much better throughout the season.”
Read more about the game in tomorrow’s Journal News.
Here are tonight’s roundups:
New Rochelle 61, Harborfields 46: In the Downstate/Upstate Classic, game MVP Joe Clarke scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Huguenots. Antone Lewis contributed 11 points and Derek Dorn added nine points.
Keio 46, Hamilton 42: In the consolation game of the Keio tournament, Fumiaki Kobayashi scored 15 points and Haruyoshi Karube scored 14. Albert Franco scored 14 points and Tavon Turner and Jaleel Barr each scored 10 for the Red Raiders. Kobayashi and Tuner were named to the all-tournament team.
Haldane 81, Clark 29: In the consolation game of the Briarcliff Booster Club tournament, Mike Halpin poured in 13 points. Chris McGovern had 12 points while Matt Forlow added 11 for the Blue Devils. For the Knights, Paiquam Johnson had 12 points and Dequan Linnen chipped in nine.
Rye 44, Pleasantville 39: In the championship match of the Cliff Clinton Classic tournament, tournament MVP Max Twyman had 23 points for the Garnets. Nick Greto scored 12 points for the Panthers.
Fox Lane 58, Brewster 34: In the consolation game of the Byram Hills tournament, James Morales had 16 points while Nicky Bonura added 14 points. Brian McNeill had eight points for the Bears.
Harrison 43, Edgemont 37: In the championship game of the Harrison Booster Club tournament, Coby Lefkowitz scored 15 points and Nick Esposito chipped in 12. For the Panthers, Jack Keeny scored 16 points while Ram Chadha added 12. Lefkowitz was named tournament MVP.
Eastchester 74, Riverside 69: In the championship game of the Ardsley Holiday tournament, Jack Daly hit for 34 points, Kevin Teahan scored 14 points and Nick Campana added nine for the Eagles. Ian Parker had 25 points and Eddie Jackson chipped in 22 for the Rams.
Kennedy 63, Blind Brook 56, OT: In the consolation game of the Cliff Clinton Classic, Danny Cruz had 23 points for the Gaels. Sean Delaney added 19 points, Dima Monaghan had 14 points and Dominick Cristiano grabbed 13 rebounds. Sam Adler had 20 points for Blind Brook.
Clarkstown South 51, Pearl River 34: At Clarkstown South, Joe Zayer scored 15 points for the Vikings. Thomas Gerlich and Conor McGuinness each added 11 points.
McClancy 50, Sacred Heart 49: In a semifinal match of the Brother Arnold tournament at McClancy, Arjon Bequiri scored 18 point for the Irish. Bella Phiam added 13 points. Sacred Heart will face Salesian in the consolation game Sunday at 4:15 p.m.
Byram Hills 62, Pelham 30: In the championship of Byram’s Winter Classic, Ryan Golden had 36 points and eight rebounds to earn MVP. Andrew Groll added eight points and 10 rebounds and was named all-tournament. Pelham shot just 7 for 47 from the field.
Arlington 58, Lakeland 47: In the championship game of the Carolyn Conroy Memorial tournament at Lakeland, Ben Dedvukaj scored 12 points and Stephen Harten had 11 points for the Hornets.
Palisade Prep 63, Tuxedo 50: In the championship game of the Keio tournament, tournament MVP Isaiah Ward had 20 points for the Phoenix. Kevin Sabino-Pena added 14 points and Fred Truss Jr. had 12 points.
17 Comments
I noticed you guys havent put up either of Kennedys games up here? why is that are you not covering them at all anymore?
How many years in a row has Pok been to the County Center? It seems like they’ve got a great run going.
Delaney is going to have a break out season with Kennedy this year.
delaney, isnt he an arlington kid ???
Arlington Busted Mahopac ! Heinz was torched !!!! i do not hear anything ?
@booster he transferred, seems like a lot of arlingtons top prospects decide to leave early, haven’t heard great things about arlingtons coaching staff maybe that’s why?
Pok has been there 12 out of the last 14 years and I believe 17 out of the last 20.
Arlington’s coaches are GREAT coaches! Best in DC county!
Coach Hoyt does great job at Arlington. A few kids and parents who think they are better than they are and leave for various reasons.
rex activates tebow whose ribs are still not 100 per cent and de activates Mc Elroy who won game for him last week…............clueless
Delaney is an Arlington kid but what does that really matter? It’s more about where a kid plays AAU than where he resides. I don’t have a horse in the race so I wish everyone good luck, Arlington,Mahopac,Kennedy, everybody. A lot of good young talent coming up in Sect 1 . Just saying Delaney is a real good one.
Arlington is a huge school that plays a weak schedule every year. Can’t recall them ever making it to county center under Hoyt.
I agree, Hoyt is a great coach , he coaches at a 4000 kid school and has never been to the county center, hall of famer right there
Listen ..Mahopac was up most of the game ..they tried to cost and they paid for it ..kudos to Arlington but let’s see where both teams are in a few months ..hopefully we both make the playoffs and meet up again …better to learn s hard lesson now then later …judging from I hear coach downs will not let that happen again and I’m sure the next few practices will be …let’s say ..intense
I actually missed the Peeskill-Poughkeepsie game… Guess Poughkeepsie will have to figure out a solution to its poor free throw shooting sooner rather than later… At lest it’s early in the season so there’s time to work it out…
As for Arlington, I think the basketball program has the same problem as football; it historically plays second fiddle to soccer and the marching band. Arlington does have a solid staff with Coach Verdis (formerly John Jay’s coach) assisting, but the challenge will be to get the school’s best athletes onto the court…
@jeff P I agree with your point about Arlington, but if Arlington wants to do something in basketball they have to keep their talent in the district. Many good players have left the program to go to other schools, I guess the latest being this Delaney kid. It all points to the programs head coach. As to Verdis I feel he is a good coach and there is no way he should be an assistant at Arlington, if I was the AD he would be the head coach without a second thought.
Interesting how kids just show up in places like Peekskill. WOW.