Here’s a look at today’s boys basketball notebook:
Clarkstown South will host four games on Saturday in the third annual Lower Hudson Basketball Coaches Association Coaches vs. Cancer showcase, an event designed to kick off a week dedicated to the cause.
Brewster and Croton-Harmon High Schools hosted the first two years. Chapter president Anthony Nicodemo would like to move the event to a Dutchess County school next season. Dutchess schools became members this season.
“We want to keep the four-county rotation going,” Nicodemo said.
South offered to host the event this season. Teams were aligned into a Rockland-Westchester challenge of sorts. Croton and Albertus Magnus will open the event at noon, followed by Saunders-Tappan Zee at 2, New Rochelle-North Rockland at 4 and South-Scarsdale at 6.
“They’re all pretty good matchups. It’s definitely something we wanted to do on purpose,” Vikings coach Matt Backs said. “It’s something for a great cause that everyone can get behind.”
Clarkstown South won’t be the only school hosting events to benefit Coaches vs. Cancer. In fact, two schools, Mahopac and Blind Brook, will host fundraisers in honor of Ty Campbell, who passed away on Oct. 17, 2012 from brain cancer. His mother, Cindy, chronicled her son’s fight with the disease on her blog, superty.org.
Mahopac coach Kevin Downes graduated with Ty’s father, Louis, and has been inspired by Cindy Campbell’s activism.
“She is an unbelievably courageous and strong woman,” Downes said.
Blind Brook will donate all proceeds from its games against Fox Lane (Wednesday) and Valhalla (Friday) to the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation to fight pediatric cancer. Mahopac will host a girls tournament and boys showcase tonight and Saturday, which is highlighted by Mahopac-Peekskill Saturday night at 8. In addition to Campbell, the event has been inspired by Catherine Cazzari, a member of the girls basketball program who has thyroid cancer.
Kennedy turning around: Kennedy has won four of seven since starting the season 1-5, capped by this week’s upset of Fox Lane. The return of senior point guard Chris Gillen from injury and the progression of the Gaels’ young core have revitalized their season.
“I’m not saying we’re going to go on a five-game winning streak, but we’re feeling a lot better going into Peekskill Monday night,” first-year coach Al Morales said.
Around the rim: Byram Hills senior Jeff Lynch enters tonight’s game against visiting Pleasantville just eight points shy of 1,000. … Mount Vernon will meet Brooklyn Collegiate (PSAL) Saturday at 4 at the famed Gauchos Gym. The Knights only picked up the game recently because they were one game short. … Mahopac junior Ryan Simone has emerged as the team’s top big man. The 6-foot-4 forward has averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds.
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UPDATE: With the impending weather, Mahopac has changed the schedule for its Coaches vs. Cancer event. Here is the updated schedule, as well as the schedule of games at Clarkstown South…
Saturday, Jan. 26
At Mahopac High School:
Fox Lane vs. Brewster, 12 p.m.
Carmel vs. Panas, 4 p.m.
Mahopac vs. Peekskill, 6 p.m.
At Clarkstown South High School:
Albertus Magnus vs. Croton-Harmon, 12 p.m.
Tappan Zee vs. Saunders, 2 p.m.
Clarkstown South vs. Scarsdale, 4 p.m.
North Rockland vs. New Rochelle, 6 p.m.
4 Comments
GREAT JOB BY ALL INVOLVED ,IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW ,THAT PEOPLE STILL CARE
If you want it in Dutchess next season, Pok has the biggest gym.
I’ve seen South vs. Scarsdale at 4 and 6. Can someone confirm the time? Thanks.
South-Scarsdale at 4, New Ro-No Rock at 6.