Here’s my story from Mahopac’s win over Somers tonight – the Indians’ 13th straight:
SOMERS — Call it a post-County Center high or a pre-Christmas lull. Whatever the label, Mahopac found itself struggling in December on the heels of two straight trips to the Class AA semifinals.
The second appearance at Section 1’s mecca included a loss in last year’s championship game to Mount Vernon, yet these Indians bore little resemblance to that team until a season-changing win over St. Mary’s of Manhasset at the Slam Dunk.
“They are a confident group, and we just had to get back to playing a little harder,” Mahopac coach Kevin Downes said Tuesday night. “We had big heads in the beginning of the season.”
The Indians not only refocused, they grasped the remainder of their schedule in a stranglehold. They won their 13th straight 55-36 Tuesday night to finish the regular season 15-3 after methodically pulling away on Somers’ home floor.
Mahopac, which also had a 12-game winning streak before last season’s championship game, won’t play until Feb. 15 in the opening round of the Class AA tournament.
“We don’t know who we’re playing yet, but we have to look at it one game at a time,” said senior Brendan Hynes, who had 24 points and five rebounds. “Hopefully, we can make it back to the County Center.”
Anything less might qualify as a disappointment for the Indians, who clinched their third league title and fourth in the past five seasons last week. Tuesday was something of a confirmation. They once again limited Somers star John Decker, Section 1’s leading scorer, who had eight points and hit just one field goal.
Mahopac corralled Decker with its 3-2 matchup zone with senior swingman Dan Tully (pictured above) being the busiest defender.
Decker, who averages over 25 points per game, now has just 17 in his past three against the neighboring Indians.
“I think it’s our defense,” Tully said. “He doesn’t know how to handle it. He has to look for his own shots, and it doesn’t seem like he’s getting much help.”
In fact, Decker and the Tuskers (12-4) received plenty of assistance from big man Max Parks (pictured right), who accepted the challenge from Mahopac’s bulky front line of 6-foot-4 Ryan Simone and Mike Simone and 6-foot-8 John Vitkus. Parks had 11 points and nine blocks, keeping Somers within 38-31 through three quarters. The Indians pulled away in the fourth behind the dogged brilliance of Hynes. Their 15-0 run in the middle of the period helped gain control.
“They wore us down in the fourth quarter last time, and I felt the same thing happened today,” first-year Somers coach Chris DiCintio said. “In the fourth quarter, we were just spent.”
“I think our length, our strength, was a big factor,” Downes said. “We play hard, and I don’t think teams can match that most times.”
15 Comments
GREAT SEASON SO FAR,KEEP UP THE HARD WORK,
Congrats to PAC – Strong showing after a weak start (2-3).
I bet Decker is happy to be done with them….
PAC is on a roll and they have the formula to stop Decker. All class A teams should speak to Pac come playoff time because as we have seen Decker can win a game by himself. 13 in a row this year and 12 in a row last year, great accomplishment.
Pac is feeling it and should be at the County Center once again. Hopefully if they face the favorite to win it all in Mt. Vernon, Pac brings their “A” game and competes well with MV and gives themselves a chance to win, proud of the boys from Mahopac.
PAC should be in a good spot. 4 or 5 seed. May have to go to Arlington to get to the CC. They would be in North Rockland’s side of the draw
@Buse – That sounds good to me, that means Mahopac would not have to face Mount Vernon until the finals provided both teams make it.
It’s North Rockland that everyone should be worried about this year. They will roll PAC and the Vern this year
Yeah ok
This is the 3rd year in a row where Mahopac goes on a run late in the season. 2 years ago 9-straight and Last year 12-straight both losing to MV in CC. Now this year 13-straight going into tho playoffs. 22-1 at home the last 3 seasons. If they are the 4 seed i cant see them losing at home. Excited to see who they play in the post season. Also 48-13 overall in the last 3 seasons for now. What a great stretch of Mahopac basketball.
@Jason – You talk about North Rockland when no one else is, do you know why? Simply put, you earn your respect on the court not by running your mouth on a blog. Saying North Rockland will roll M.V. and Pac this year is laughable, you might want to buy some Lotto tickets, you will have a better chance there.
Upset special in round 1 White Plains over Pac!! Then WP over Arlington and after a dismal season WP gets to the county center for the first time in a long time!!
Then white plains over Kansas ..then white plains over the Miami heat then over ..ugh .”super fan ..time to get up and get ready for school”
What does it say that mahopac wins 12 and 13 straight and will still get blown out by MV? Many weak teams in Section 1. A good record doesn’t mean good ball players.
Keep talking
Reality, it says MV was VERY good last year and every year. Everyone in AA plays for 2nd place most years. A few yrs ago Yorktown almost beat MV and last yr it was Clarkstown South. PAC is a lacrosse, baseball, football school. Hoops is 4th most popular sport. The fact they even have this kind of success is amazing. Teams can still be good high school teams and players even if they don’t win a gold ball.