5,000
That’s roughly how many miles the Mount Vernon boys basketball team logged during their first six road games.
Needless to say, the boys were happy to get a home game after so much traveling.
The crowd seemed just as eager. In fact, during the unveiling of last year’s state-championship team photo most of the Mount Vernon fans stayed seated and talked among themselves, uninterested in last year’s achievements.
The message was clear: That was then, this is now. Show me what you got.
The Knights did not disappoint, as they cruised to a 74-44 win against Scarsdale.
MOUNT VERNON There was no hiding the joy on Brandon Martin’s face after Mount Vernon’s first home game.
“I was real excited coming in,” Martin said. “I wanted to play in front of all my friends, fans, everything.”
That seemed to be the case for the entire team. The Knights rode a a strong first quarter to a 74-44 win over Scarsdale on Friday.
“I know emotions were high,” Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino said. “I know the whole community was really excited to finally play home and I was just worried we would come out and go a little too fast.”
While the Knights (6-1) did play fast, it certainly wasn’t something Cimmino had to worry about. Mount Vernon jumped out to a 10-0 lead, and by quarter’s end the Knights had a 21-4 advantage, thanks in part to Martin, who had eight of his 14 points in the period.
“We needed to come out big and show the crowd what we could do,” Josh Doughty (pictured right) said. “We needed to show the crowd what’s going to come from the season.”
Cimmino credited Doughty (18 points) and Jamal Lewis (12), both senior guards, for dictating the flow of the game early.
“We’ve been waiting for this moment since Nov. 13, since the season started,” Doughty said. “We know this is a big win for us. We had to come out big and just play hard defense and we would come out victorious.”
The Knights didn’t let up in the second quarter, pouring in another 23 points to hold a 44-17 lead at the half. Scarsdale’s (9-2) Dylan LoBue was the lone bright spot for the Raiders, coming off the bench to score eight of his 16 points in the quarter.
Cimmino said his team’s big bench kept the players on the court from letting up.
“If they let down we’ve got a lot of other guys that want to play so they’ve got to keep going,” Cimmino said. “What have you done for me lately?”
By the fourth quarter Cimmino had emptied his bench. While he did feel he got some good things from his reserves, he thinks there is room for improvement.
“I’d like them to push the starters more,” Cimmino said. “We’re about 10 deep overall. I’m greedy. I want to go all the way down the end of the bench without having a big drop-off.”
Before the game Mount Vernon unveiled the team photo of the 2011-12 state champions, the latest addition to a gymnasium that seemingly has a new one every year. Doughty, who was a role player on the team, is ready make his mark in his final season.
“The seniors came out right last year, so we want to do the same thing,” Doughty said. “We don’t want no letdowns. Just keep the tradition going, states after states after states.”
Photos courtesy of Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News. For the complete gallery click. here.
12 Comments
MOUNT VERNON HAS WHITE PLAINS TUESDAY AND NEW ROCHELLE ON THURSDAY,BOTH GAMES ON THE ROAD,”TIME TO SHOW WHO’S BOSS”
Haywood declares, “TIME TO SHOW WHO’S BOSS”
Agreed ‘Wood, and after your uncanny prediction of a 30 point victory against Scarsdale [78-48 vs. the actual 74-44] you showed Varsity Insider Nation “who’s the man”.
Carnac the Magnificent has got nothing on you, my friend.
65..
The Woodman has a lot of making up to do after his Loughlin call.
The New Ro game may be the biggest test on the remaining schedule. It’s always a battle in that gym and New Ro has a real team, pay no attention to that record.
spacecadet
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Was recounting the other day how in ‘65 New Rochelle “upset” MV at the County Center for the AAA title [now AA title].
In many ways a mirror image of Mount Vernon, our slightly more affluent, next door neighbor has always been a formidable foe, albeit, their equivalent dominance has for the most part been manifest in football to our basketball.
Always had a bone to pick with the Huguenots, even before I was robbed in the projects as an 18 yr. old, driver for Good Humor Ice Cream. Now the irony is I live in upstate NY where both my kids graduated as Huguenots from New Paltz H.S.
NC state/ Duke,,Yanks/Sox..Rangers/Philly, Ali/Frazier and New Ro/MV..
On paper, MV has been 20 point favorites but in the New Ro gym things change. One of my favorite games of the year..
Perhaps the mugging was because you sold only ice cream out of that truck..
SPACECADET/MVHS65,
BRING THEM ONE BY ONE, OR BY THE BUNCH,MV WILL BE READY,IT’S TIME FOR THE KING OF SECTION 1 TO TAKE A GIANT STEP FORWARD
Haywood
Meet me at half court!!.. We can do the jump ball!!..
New Ro 56 Mv 54…
Prince,
What ever you had,don’t do it again,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
space…........Hold on partner don’t be doggin’ me on this self-disclosure. There’s a big difference between being “mugged” and have some kids “pilfer” a couple of pints of Good Humor from the unlocked, back freezer [DUH!!] while I’m working the side section.
That said, I knew a driver with a route near the Stadium [Grand Concourse] who was dealing weed, trips and smack from his back freezer. Thriving business I’m told.
enterprising young driver,
I hate to admit it, but I was a pretty good at laying down the “front truck divergence” while the back freezer was being taken care of..
spacecadet…
LOL, The statute of limitations has long run out on you homie, so thanks for your confession of guilt in petit larceny.
I feel better now, making that confession was on my bucket list