Courtside

By RICHARD A. ROSS

Boys’ Basketball Action

	TRR Photo by Richard A. Ross Eldred’s Henry Bosch brings the ball up the floor defended by Sullivan West’s Brian Parks. (Click for larger image)

Sullivan West controls Eldred in crossover game 52-30

ELDRED, NY—Using a combination of size, quickness and good passing, the Sullivan West Bulldogs easily handled the injury-hampered Yellowjackets on Tuesday, January 7. The Yellowjackets were missing starters John Martin and Chris Ryman, both of whom will likely be out for the next few weeks. This has caused coach Bill Gunther to have to call up a couple of JV players to fill in.

Gunther credited the Bulldogs for “playing really good defense”. That defense prevented Eldred from getting good looks at the basket and limited them to one-shot trips up the floor. Brent Rose led Sullivan West with a game-high 21 points. Joe Meyer added nine for the Bulldogs. Henry Bosch paced the Yellowjackets with 13 points and Jim Nieke added eleven. Eldred faces a densely packed schedule the next couple of weeks as it attempts to make up games cancelled due to snow. This was their first game back after a seven-day layoff. Sullivan West improved its record to 3-3 while Eldred fell to 1-4

	TRR Photo by Richard A. Ross Sullivan West’s Rob Orr puts back a rebound in Sullivan West’s loss to The Family School. (Click for larger image)

The Family School Defeats Sullivan West in closing seconds 48-46

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—On January 9 a thrilling see-saw battle took place in a rare meeting of The Family School (Class D) with the Sullivan West Bulldogs (Class B). Trailing early in the first half, the Bulldogs rallied to tie and eventually surpass the Falcons. Neither team seemed able to get an effective offense going. Sullivan West’s defense, which appeared stifling at times, limited The Family School to mostly one shot. Bulldog defenders Rob Orr and Sean Semenetz played extremely well. As the game wound down to its final seconds, the lead went back and forth. The score was tied at 46 apiece with 49 seconds left when Falcons’ Lucas Droseros was fouled on a drive to the basket. He made both free throws and secured the lead at 48-46. Time expired on the Bulldogs on their last possession. Sullivan West fell to 3-4 while The Family School record improved to 3-6.

Rose’s late shots propels Bulldogs over Ellenville 62-61

ELLENVILLE, NY — Coming off a tough loss on January 9 against The Family School, Sullivan West bounced back with a final seconds win on a Brent Rose hook shot with eight seconds left. The victory raised Sullivan West’s record to 4-4, 2-2 OCIAA. Rose had 21 points and senior Everett Saul added 16. Jason Budd was Ellenville’s leading scorer with 38 points. Despite his great effort, Ellenville fell to 1-10, 0-4 OCIAA. The Bulldogs will face crossover rival Roscoe on Tuesday, January14.

Girls’ Basketball Action

Sullivan West Edges Eldred 38-36

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY—Prior to the merger of the Sullivan West district, Eldred had strong rivalries with the former Narrowsburg, Jeff-Youngsville and Delaware Valley teams. Now that those three schools have merged into one, Class D Eldred could only play against Class B Sullivan West in a non-league crossover match up. The 3 in 1 school just barely eked out a win by going ahead with 1:15 left to play. Nadine McCarthy led the scoring for the Bulldogs with 12 points. Jenna Fredericks scored a game-high 14 points for Eldred. Sullivan West improved its record to 2-3 while Eldred fell to 3-5.

	TRR Photo by Richard A. Ross Manor coach Andy Taggart schemes offensive strategy during Manor’s 45-32 loss to Roscoe. (Click for larger image)

State-ranked Roscoe-Manor duel ends with Blue Devil win 45-32

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY—Each team came into this first of the season match-up on Friday, January 10 between the two western Sullivan County rivals by disposing of their opponents handily this week. Manor easily beat Fallsburg while Roscoe had vanquished Chester. Ranked 15th in the State Class D rankings Roscoe, the defending Section 9 champs were listed above Manor who was listed as 20th in the State.

Roscoe showed its superiority by getting out to an early lead by a score of 16-6. Manor attempted a tandem-two defense in an attempt to stifle Roscoe’s three big guns Cheyenne Smith, Rose Miesner and Christine Rosencranse. That resulted in a number of wide-open looks for Danielle Sullivan who knocked down a number of shots early on. Manor had a hard time getting into the flow of their offense as Roscoe pressured the ball and denied the Wildcats good looks at the basket. Cheyenne Smith led all scorers with 14. Rose Miesner added in eight points for the Blue Devils. Alys Mann led Livingston Manor with 10 points and Jen Taggart had eight. The Blue Devils improved their record to 6-2, 3-1 OCIAA while the Wildcats suffered only their second loss of the season giving them a record of 8-2, 4-1 OCIAA.

	TRR photo by Richard A. Ross George Thomas, junior at Livingston Manor Central School. (Click for larger image)

Manor’s George Thomas chosen to first-team all-state

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIVINGSTON MANOR, NY — Running back George Thomas was named to the first team of the New York State Sportswriters Association Class D all-star football team.

Thomas, a junior, rushed for 1,845 yards and 24 touchdowns during the Wildcats’ season. The Wildcats won their first Section 9 football title and Thomas was a big part of that accomplishments. Teammate Remington Parker, a senior was named to the second team as an offensive lineman.

Other locals selected to the all-stars included Roscoe senior defensive end Brian Ballard who was named to the second team. In Class B, New Paltz senior linebacker Travis O’Dell was named to the second team.

Tryout schedule for
the Team Rangers Squad

REGION — The New York Rangers official youth hockey camp, Team Rangers, has released tryout dates for the Hudson Valley Pee Wee squad representing the Empire State in the Rangers Cup international tournament to be held in Montreal on April 14 to 19. Lou Tocco, hockey director and head coach at The Harvey School in Katonah, NY, will manage the Hudson Valley Team Rangers. The Hudson Valley area will also field Midget and Bantam class teams in tournaments in Montreal over the summer.

Tryouts for the PeeWee Hudson Valley Team Rangers will be held in Katonah, NY at Evarts Rink at The Harvey School on Thursday, January 9 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. and in Greenburgh, NY in the new Rangers practice facility on Saturday, January 11, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Players can choose which session to attend. To register for the tryout, go to www.TeamRangers.com or call 914/232-1054.