Summer league basketball

Teachable moments

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — The next to the last week of summer league games provided an eleventh-hour opportunity for coaches to impart vital important lessons before the playoffs come and go.

Honing the mechanics of setting picks, switching on defense, passing to the wings and running set plays, determines the level of a players’ game this coming winter and is the point of summer league play.

This year has tested the young Sullivan West, Roscoe and Tri-Valley teams. Though wins have been hard to come by against the older, more experienced squads, opportunities to enhance player expertise and confidence prevailed for the freshmen, sophomores and seventh and eighth graders who have seen playing time this summer.

Following a game in which his team led before losing to Ellenville’s varsity 55-46 in the first round of the playoffs, Sullivan West’s junior varsity coach George Rose discussed the merits of playing against tough competition. “There’s a huge learning curve,” said Rose. “The kids made enormous strides this summer by playing against quicker and stronger teams.”

Teaching was also in evidence as Ellenville’s girls coach Mike Guiney called a time-out in a first round playoff game against Tri-Valley. “We’re not that deep in the game and we already have six fouls,” Guiney said to his players. “Don’t foul 20 feet from the basket. Play smart. We don’t want to give them the chance to win this game from the foul line,” Guiney admonished.

Ellenville’s girls absorbed the lesson and went on to soundly defeat Tri-Valley 31-10. They had beaten the Bears 30-17 the night before on the last night of the regular season.

In other final night games, Livingston Manor downed Liberty 27-9 while Downsville dominated Fallsburg 50-21. In boys action, Downsville beat Ellenville 55-47 and Liberty defeated Sullivan West 68-43.

In other boys first round playoff action, Downsville defeated Tri-Valley 57-30 and Liberty outscored Roscoe 66-48.

For playoff results and a summer league wrap up read The River Reporter next week.