I caught up with Kevin Downes and assistant Dan Cross following Mahopac’s heart-stopping 72-69, double-OT win over Arlington. Here’s my story about the game:
With each berth to the County Center, the expectations reset, heightening a little more each year. Entering this season, a third straight trip to the Class AA semifinals seemed like the bare minimum Mahopac would accept.
Even so, when the final shot rimmed out and the Indians had beat Arlington, again, in double overtime, again, 62-59 in the Class AA quarterfinals, coach Kevin Downes still found himself amazed by his team.
“Unbelievable. To say it’s a great feeling is an understatement,” said Downes, a Mahopac graduate. “I thought last year was as good as it would get, but to go on the road and get there again and have the same kind of game? This one is really special.”
For Mahopac, it is also historic. The Indians (17-3), winners of 15 straight, reached the County Center for the third consecutive time – an achievement that is believed to be a program first. They will meet No. 9 New Rochelle on Friday, March 1 at 5 in the semifinals, a game that will pit two of the section’s most physical frontcourts against one another.
First, Mahopac needed to survive another chest-thumper with Arlington, the No. 4 seed, which beat the Indians 64-58 on Dec. 6 in both teams’ season opener. They traded leads throughout four physical quarters and were tied 48-48 with under 20 seconds to play. Senior Brendan Hynes missed a 3-pointer and the Indians missed an attempt at a put back before the final buzzer sounded to send it to overtime.
The score remained tight until the final minute of the first overtime. Down 54-51, Mahopac forced an Arlington turnover with under 30 seconds to play. Hynes, the team’s leading scorer and a two-time all-section player, delivered in dramatic fashion, tying the game with 4.4 seconds left on a three-point play.
With the season seemingly in jeopardy, the Indians always seemed to save it.
“There was a time where I thought, wow, we’re letting this one get away, but I don’t think the kids ever felt that way,” Downes said. “I think that’s a credit to their experience.”
They held a 60-59 lead entering the final minute when Ryan Simone hit a pair of clutch free throws. Following a Mahopac turnover, Arlington called timeout with 12 seconds remaining and Downes (ahead by three) said he contemplated fouling, a tactic his team used successfully in an overtime victory over White Plains on Jan. 5 at Brewster.
This time, Downes’ players urged him to play defense.
“We toyed with the idea of, ‘Do we foul?’” Downes said. “The kids said, ‘We’re good coach.’ I reminded them that Beacon let up a 3 against Byram with 0.5 seconds left and told them, ‘You just have to guard the 3-point line. If they get a 2, they get a 2.”
Arlington attempted a tough 3-pointer that missed. Time expired as Mahopac’s Dan Tully and Arlington’s Gio Rodriguez chased the loose ball.
Hynes led the Indians with 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Simone added 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. John Vitkus chipped in five points and eight boards.
Tully, a senior guard, also returned to the lineup after missing Friday’s Class AA opening round game with an ankle injury.
Errico Feaster led Arlington with 14 points. Jayson Leigh added 13 and Mike Duffy had 12.
“I was real proud of our guys,” Arlington coach Matt Hoyt told the Poughkeepsie Journal. “We got down 10 points early and there’s no quit in this team, like it’s been all year.”
That identity has defined Mahopac’s season, too. With nine seniors returning, the Indians now find themselves one game shy of last year. After their 76-75, double-OT win at home in the 2012 quarterfinals, they beat Fox Lane in the semifinals before falling to Mount Vernon in the championship.
To this point, these playoffs have proved eerily reminiscent to those.
“Everything tonight was the same except for the venue,” Downes said. “The crowd was great and the game was great.”
38 Comments
Questionable decision making personnel wise down the stretch for Arlington …. They just can’t make it over the hump. In order for the program to really take the next step need to gather a tougher schedule to play through the year, help them get ready playoffs. Coaches need to lead the way
Ball Game, Normally I would agree but they played Pok 2x’s, OLL 3x’s, Red Hook (a little down ), FDR 16-3, etc. I think they need to seek out teams like NFA and Kingston. However, their schedule was pretty good. Their league was much better than the one that Mahopac was in. Great game.
I so enjoy reading this you Arlington people are writing…just shows what you are
BAWLER,
AND WHAT IS THAT?
Enough said ..moving on
That was one of the best high school games I have ever seen. The only bad part was the officiating. 3 refs were needed for the game. Big shot after big shot by both teams. The free throw by Hynes to send it to 2 OT was so clutch. You have to feel for Arlington who is always so close but much respect to PAC those are some tough kids who are gamers.
Arlington team is a very tough hard nosed team ..last yrs game was maybe Yoo game of the year and last night’s may be this yrs ..it was fun ..t
By FAR the best game I’ve ever been to. The place was packed and you could cut the tension with a knife.
This was another great win for Mahopac and Downes..
Ony question I have is—Where the heck is Mr. Pease? What has he shownup to 1 game this year? School spirit is part of the enjoyment of sport and he shoul be trying to use this as much as possible – Has anyone whispred in hisear that this team is now won 15 games in a row…
come on Pease -
Get with the programsupport your own dam team!!!!!Nice point !
Great win for Pac and should be good matchup with New Ro. Both physical and evenly matched but different styles of play.
Pretty much the only faculty going to the Pac games are the ones that are getting paid doing security.Although they will be at the County Center like they”ve been supporters all year. Its a joke how the tax dollars are spent, there will be 30 state troopers at the Center and 31 security gaurds for Mahopac.
Wood
Save me a seat
FYI….The varsity football coaches have been at most games (at least at home). ot sure if they were there last night but I’ve seen them at games throughout the season.
ps. Great game & win last night.
No question, I did fail to mention that, Tom and his staff have certainly been suporters throughout the years
Didn’t see the game but the foul on the and one up 54-51. Why are these kids fouling anyone in that spot, especially on a 2 pointer. I imagine it was a great play by Hynes but shouldn’t the defense just get out of the way? Also in the Byram game, .5 left should not be ANYONE defending inside the 3 point line. Head scratching.
JC,
Yes football Staff – especially Tom D have been to almost all the ganes – home or away – Where have all our pricinpals been (less the oone on house arrest) been for our kids..
There too busy writing up a new permission slip for the kids to attent the game PAC dad
POOR execusion by Arlignton in key moments of the game. up 3 with 5 seconds left to play and you lose! how does that happen! Let hynes make the layup and youre still up 1!! As a whole, players have such low situational awareness today.
What?- I agree with ball game, pok and PAC were the only real teams they played all year. Beating up on weak teams throughout the season may help your seeding but it doesn’t help for the playoffs. This isn’t a one year thing, it’s every year. Time to raise the bar and stop fluffing the schedule
Not sure if you are only looking for teachers you know, but I was sitting with three Mahopac teachers in the stands. There were more than you think or know there were. I saw at least 9 that I knew, not including those working as security.
Will the Mahopac Maniacs be in attendance at the CC? they were noticably absent during the Slam Dunk.
New AD is busting chops about everything..can’t have any fun
I think he wanted kids to get permission slips to go to games or something like that ..
Games at the CC are open to the public. I doubt a school official has any authority over who can enter the CC to watch games. Not on any school grounds. Later for that!
The spirit displayed by the kids at Mahopac, Somers,Arlington,Carmel, etc is exactly what makes High School sports so enjoyable and so much fun to attend. Kids cheering hard for their schools and their teams is how you define spirit. Living close to Mahopac, I can tell you that the Principal has no love for ANY of the sports teams at Mahopac. He is the ONE person who is trying like heck to squash the spirit that those kids have for their school.
I hope that every Mahopac student, as well as those kids from all of the other schools who are playing at the CC , will come out in full force to cheer on their teams and have some fun! Lord knows that life gets serious real quick once you enter the real world so have at it kids!!!!
BBVD – Manko came in talking all kinds of crap about being an “athletic supporter” guess we now what he really meant…
Instead they support and pay for “Suspended Principles (hasn’t that been swept under the rug)
BBVD,
Wood and HRs can tell you that I leave my big boy pants at the CC door. Nice being a kid for a few hours man.
Great, exciting win for Mahopac! Really good crowd atmosphere and school spirit. Agree with BBVD…schools in our area (students, parents, community) generally display great support and sportmanship…Mahopac staff deserves credit, their kids play good defense, and play hard…not sure their guard play can take them to top, but they will not be an easy out at CC…on another note, Arlington was a VERY poor shooting team last night…Mahopac will be a much more formidable semi-finalist…Go ‘Pac!
Hornet,
Well said. When Arlington is knocking them down, very hard to stop. When they go cold, last night happens. At the Pac it probably would have been a 7-10 win but I know Bawler will take this and keep it moving!
Sort of disappointed in Gio Rodriguez. Consummate team player but he could have stepped up in big moments this season, expected more. I know teams game plan for him but rise above it!
Its sad to hear about what the administration has done with the fans. I saw the Maniacs a few times last year and I’ll tell you that might have been the best fan base I’ve seen in many years of watching basketball in the area. Been to a few games this year and its not what it was. Hope they’re back for the County Center!
Statesman – Came thru the grapevine from Wood and HR that you should keep ypur pants on because they have seen better legs on a table. Lol.
PS. my shot at a little humor!!
New Ro is a very bad matchup for Mahopac, but the winner has to play a hot Mt Vernon team that will torch either one.
Again Arlington coaching is a factor in another big loss. They stick with players who are having off games and substitute for the players who are contributing. Why? Because thats how they substituted all season. They do not adjust to the flow of the game but stick to the routine they used all season. Not fair to the players. Time for a change.
scary
Probably right but you never know. Lehigh knocked off Duke. lol.
BBVD,
LoL, well played. I’ll keep the pants on this year!
These are my observations on the events that took place the last week during sectionals and at Arlington HS based on what I’ve heard, read on Twitter and Lohud and watched on MSG Varsity.
1. The place was packed and the Arlington Fans should be commended for all the energy they brought to their school. Looked like the place to be at on Wednesday night. It felt like a NYC game not a Section 1 HS game. Way to go Arlington Students. You made us proud to be Arlington taxpayers. Mr. Goddard has to ease up a bit and allow fans to energize their team more often.
2. Arlington does have to play more competitive teams throughout the year. Seems like the coach is more concerned with his won-loss record than getting to the county center.
3. Arlington up 3 with under 10 seconds to go, should have been instructed to foul by coaching staff and especially coach Hoyt. If Mahopac makes both FT’s, they are still up 1 with the ball and in control of their own destiny. As a coach, you can’t beat that. Coach Hoyt doesn’t seem to have a feel for what to do when the games get competitive like the one the other night. If his players don’t do it on their own, he doesn’t know what to do. I can see what some Arlington parents/fans are saying.
4. Arlington staff should have learned a very important lesson by watching what Beacon coach/staff didn’t do versus Byram Hills the other night. That was disgraceful. Beacon has to foul even before the ball is inbounded and the game is essentially over. Instead, they double team the wrong player….no defender on Beacon’s team should have been inside the 3 point line. Beacon boys deserved better.
5. I’m sorry PAC fans, but Mahopac’s Hynes should have been called for a CHARGE on the layup or a NO CALL should have been implemented by the Referee. Arlington’s Jason Leigh (I think that was him) was there for the charge and had both feet set on time. Terrible call by the official. He essentially robbed Arlington of a trip to the County Center and it should be reviewed and investigated by Section 1 officials. Simply put, You don’t make that call. You let the players decide the outcome. Reminded me of how Keio was robbed at County Center versus Tuckahoe a few years ago. Goddard won’t do anything though, he doesn’t have it in him.
6. Good luck to Mahopac, New Rochelle awaits and is very beatable. Your program is legit and as an Arlington fan, I commend your effort throughput the last few years. You get the job done when it matters and never quit on your coach or teammates.
7. There are several HS coaches who talk a good game, but can’t seem to win a single sectional game. They know who they…..win some big games fellas and then you can talk the talk.
There were plenty of fouls to go around ..I can 10 that if called it wouldn’t have been a 3 pt game
BTW ..I was there
Lacking BB IQ,
You mention one possible bad call by that offical , you forget the 10 to 15 terrible calls he made before that put Mahopac it that position.He was making terrible calls all night( and very inconsistent)
Lacking bball IQ, about time another Arlington fan saw the dysfunctions of the staff and ad . Saying Goddard doesn’t have it in him is an understatement. He doesn’t even know if a basketball is filled with air or stuffed…....