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Section nine tournament
Roscoe girls prevail but Monticello falls short
Seward and fallsburg boys are also victorious
By RICHARD
A. ROSS
WEST POINT, NY — You couldn’t ask for anything more. The best
of Section 9 teams played this weekend head to head in a packed Christl Arena.
With titles on the line, cheering crowds, and the bright light of the big
arena, the Roscoe Lady Devils (18-3) captured their second consecutive Section
Nine title on March 2. Their 45-31 win over rival Livingston Manor (14-8)
issued Roscoe a ticket into the state tournament. They will play the winner
of the Section 11 (Suffolk County) and Section 1 (Rockland, Dutchess, Westchester
and Putnam counties) on March 7 at Mount St. Mary’s College in Newburgh.
The game got off to an agonizing start. After nearly four
minutes, the score stood at 2-1 Manor. Roscoe found some life and led 12-2
before Manor went on a 7-0 run. Roscoe led at the half 16-11. The Lady Devils
came alive in the third quarter and were in great shape with a 34-23 lead
at the end of the period. Manor never got back in the game. Christine Rosencranse
led Roscoe with 14. Cheyenne Smith had 13 and Rose Miesner had 6 points.
Alys Mann led Manor with 15. Roscoe has won the Section 9 title for three
out of the past four years.
In the Class A boys’ game, the Monticello Panthers took to
the floor for a fast-paced match up against the vaunted Kingston Tigers.
Coming off of a startling semifinal overtime win against Saugerties without
starters Geraldo Fernandez and Ricky Villegas, the Panthers had top-seeded,
9th in the state-ranked Kingston in their sights.
Unfortunately, Kingston had other ideas. Featuring Division
I bound Keith Simmons and junior Artavius Fisher, Kingston (21-2) was too
much for Monticello, which fell 59-42. Artavius Fisher led Kingston with
21 points but fell hard to the floor after falling over the back of T. J.
Walker. He did return to the game but was clearly shaken up. Kingston, which
was undefeated against Section 9 teams this year, moves on to play Elmira
Southside (10-11) at SUNY Binghamton. Powerhouse Mount Vernon waits in the
wings.
Having moved up to Class A this year, Monticello (19-3), coached
by Hall of Famer Dick O’Neill, had a terrific season. One of the smaller
Class A schools, the seniors, paced by Ricky Villegas, Geraldo Fernandez,
Devin Brust, Devan Scantlebury and Deon Morgan, served up a stirring season.
T.J. Walker, a sophomore and the star of the semifinal win, will likely be
the centerpiece of next year’s team.
Late in the day, the S.S. Seward Spartans (18-3) led by gunner
Mike Hoyt blew by Chapel Field (11-10) to take the Class D title. Hoyt registered
35 points in the win. Seward has dominated Class D all year. Chapel Field
did have a 34-28 lead with 3:33 left in the third sparked by John Bast, but
Hoyt took over the game with an array of 3s, drives and foul shots. He shot
50 percent from the floor.
On Saturday, March 1, the Fallsburg Comets (15-4) beat Tri-Valley
(15-8) to take the boys’ Class C title. It has been 10 years since Fallsburg
last won. Led by Jon Hinton’s 23-point effort and Zaquan Hilliard’s contribution
of 20 more, the Comets were too much for the Bears right from the start.
Tri-Valley’s superstar Kyle Humphrey finished with 30 points but unlike the
semi-final upset win over Chester, other Tri-Valley players were unable to
carry their share of the load. Humphrey finished with a combined total of
108 points in the three tournament games, averaging an amazing 34 points
per game.
Fallsburg will play the winner of the Section 1 champion at
Mount St. Mary’s College on March 4. Other Sectional winners were Class A
girls’: Middletown, Class B girls’: John S. Burke Catholic, Class B boys’:
Red Hook, and Class C girls’: Tuxedo.
Jody Riedel wins Lady Godiva Pace
MONTICELLO, NY — On Sunday, February 16 Jody Riedel proceeded
to the winners’ circle with Cam’s Jackpot after scoring a 2:04 victory in
the first-ever Lady Godiva Pace. The pace was an all-woman event presented
on Valentine’s Day weekend with the winner receiving a box of Godiva chocolates.
Riedel, who traveled to Monticello from her home in central
New York just to compete in the event, held off a late charge by Betsy Phillips
and Nasty McNasty to score a head triumph. A length farther back was Sherry
Clouser, aboard Laughmeister. “This was a lot of fun,” Riedel said.
Coaches sought for state games
REGION — Frank Intervallo, the Hudson Valley regional director
for the Empire State Games has announced openings in volunteer coaching positions
for the 2003 games. The Empire State Games are a statewide, Olympic-styled
athletic competition run by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation,
and Historic Preservation. Competition is conducted in 28 sports in Scholastic
(grades 9 to 11) and Open (12 grade and beyond) divisions. This year, the
Games will be held July 23 to 27 in Buffalo. The Hudson Valley region covers
Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties.
For more information call 914/423-9116.
Sectional preliminary rounds
By RICHARD
A. ROSS
Boys’ Class A quarterfinals and semifinals
Monticello disposes of Minisink Valley 69-42
MONTICELLO, NY — Geraldo Fernandez of Monticello led all scorers
on February 25 with 28 points. Sparked by a 3-point shot by T.J. Walker at
the beginning of the second quarter, the Panthers went on a 12-0 run to take
a 21-9 lead at the half. Minisink (10-11) was never able to close the gap.
The Warriors were paced by Luke Mortensen’s 12 points. Monticello (18-2)
moved on to face Saugerties at SCCC for the semifinals.
Short-handed Monticello Prevails
over Saugerties in Overtime
53-51
LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Playing without starters Ricky Villegas
and Geraldo Fernandez on February 28, Monticello overcame an early 14-10
deficit and foul trouble by Deon Morgan, to prevail against a great Sawyer
team. T.J. Walker’s momentous performance, including a pair of three-point
shots in overtime, carried Monticello (19-2) to one of coach Dick O’Neills’
most emotional wins. Walker ended up with 21 points. Saugerties was paced
by Bob Kaible with 21 points and Erik Lynch with 12 points. Monticello earned
a berth in the finals against top-seeded Kingston.
Boys’ Class C quarterfinals and semifinals
Humphrey’s 55 propels Tri-Valley over Rhinebeck 81-72
GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Kyle Humphrey set a school record on February
25 by pouring in 55 points, including 7 three-pointers as fourth-seeded Tri-Valley
earned a chance to play top-seeded Chester in the semi finals.
Tri-Valley’s balanced attack upsets top-seeded chester 73-62
MIDDLETOWN, NY — No. 4-seeded Tri-Valley pulled off one of
the tournaments biggest upsets and ended Chester’s 17 game winning streak.
On February 28, great performances by Martin Henry-Lester (14 points), Danny
Weisberg (12 points) and J.R. Rennison (10 points) fueled the Bears’ victory.
Tri-Valley moved on to play rival Fallsburg in the finals.
Hinton guides Fallsburg over Pine Plains 75-52
FALLSBURG, NY — Jon Hinton scored 24 points to enable Fallsburg
(13-5) to advance to play No. 2-seeded Milbrook in the semifinals. Ryan Christensen
had 16 points for Pine Plains (7-13) in the February 25 quarterfinal.
Fallsburg advances to the finals with defeat of milbrook 39-32
NEW PALTZ, NY — Jon Hinton had 16 points as 3rd seeded Fallsburg
knocked off 2nd-seeded Milbrook in the February 27 semifinal match up. Fallsburg
(14-5) earned a trip to the finals to play Tri-Valley. Fallsburg last won
a sectional title in 1993.
Girls’ Class C quarterfinals and semifinals
Liberty demolishes Tri-Valley 49-30 in quarter final win
LIBERTY, NY — Andrea TerBush and Christine Waryha combined
for 26 points to lead Liberty (18-3) to an impressive quarterfinal win on
February 25. No. 3-seeded Liberty moved on to face 2nd-seeded Milbrook at
SUNY New Paltz.
Liberty’s fine season ends with 49-37 loss to Milbrook
NEW PALTZ, NY — Liberty lost its chance to play Tuxedo in
the finals by succumbing to Milbrook on February 27. Kim Matsen led Milbrook’s
scoring. Andrea TerBush paced Liberty (18-4) with 19 points.
Girls’ Class D semifinals
Taggart leads Manor over Chapel Field 32-47
NEWBURGH, NY — The Wildcats used a 13-4 early run including
7 by Jennifer Taggart to eliminate Chapel Field on February 26. Charlene
Vail added 8 points for Manor. Laura Bast had 16 points for Chapel Field.
Manor moved on to the finals to play rival Roscoe.
Roscoe rolls over John A. Coleman Catholic 54-32
LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Roscoe’s big three, Cheyenne Smith, Chrissy
Rosencranse and Rose Miesner combined to send Coleman home. Smith had 19
points while Rosencranse and Miesner each contributed 12 to the February
28 effort. Dana Postupack’s 12 points led Coleman (2-17. No. 1-seeded Roscoe
(17-3) went on to defend its Section 9 title against Manor (14-7).
Section 9 basketball past winners
Girls Class A: 2002: Minisink Valley, 2001: Newburgh, 2000:
Newburgh, 1999: Newburgh. Class B: 1999-2002: John S. Burke Catholic. Class
C: 2002: Tuxedo, 2001: Spackenkill, 2000: Ellenville, 1999: Rhinebeck. Class
D: 2002: Roscoe, 2001: Eldred, 2000: Roscoe, 1999: Livingston Manor.
Boys Class A: 2002: Kingston, 2001: Middletown, 2000: Pine
Bush, 1999: Monroe-Woodbury. Class B: 2002: Monticello, 2001: Onteora, 2000:
Cornwall, 1999: Spackenkill. Class C: 2002: Spackenkill, 2001: Milbrook,
2000: Liberty, 1999: James I. O’Neill. Class D: 2002: S.S. Seward, 2001:Chester,
2000: S.S. Seward, 1999: Milbrook.
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