Boys Basketball

Bulldogs answer the bell with Meyer three-pointer

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — While it lacks the history that defines the age-old rivalry between Monticello and John S. Burke Catholic, the recent hoop warfare between Monticello and Sullivan West has begun to take on a life of its own.

Both the Monticello Panthers and the Sullivan West Bulldogs look forward to their two yearly duels as barometers of their current basketball bills of health, and as predictors of how they might fare against other tough teams down the line.

For the second time in three days, the Panthers found themselves in a life-and-death struggle against the top-notch class B team. After sending a message to Burke with its January 25 fourth-quarter come-from-behind win, the Panthers set their sights on visiting county nemesis Sullivan West.

Still smarting from their 64-56 loss to the Bulldogs on December 21 in Lake Huntington (and the Bulldogs’ win in Monticello last season), the Panthers were out to take no prisoners. Beginning by controlling the tip and getting a quick basket from Matt Goodin, Monticello dove for every loose ball and canned a high percentage of its shots to roar out to a 10-nothing lead. They scored eight of those points in the first 53 seconds of the game.

John Nober’s put-back got the Bulldogs on the board, but an electric Brad Cooper picked up right where he left off in the Burke game with a three-pointer. Joe Meyer’s first three-pointer of the night got his team within six points at 13-7.

A dramatic collision between Panther point guard Luis Paredes and Kelly looked like it might sideline Paredes for the night. Cooper took over at the point. Meyer’s second three-pointer made it 17-12 at 1:25. The Panthers answered with a Sean Thompson free throw and a steal-turned-lay up by Cooper. Just when Monticello looked to pull away, Joe Winski brought them back to earth with a trey. Monticello led 20-15 at the end of the quarter.

Changing defense with alarming regularity, the Bulldogs sought to diffuse the Panther powder keg. The second quarter began with a Monticello steal and a quick score by Sinan Tertimez. It wouldn’t be the last the Bulldogs would hear from the prolific forward.

Kevin Cappiello took over at the point and hit a pair of free throws, but a flurry of scoring by Jackson, Cooper and Tertimez stretched the lead to 28-17 with 5:12 to go in the first half.

Kelly’s drives to the basket netted free throws. Both teams forced turnovers that resulted in wire-to-wire lay ups, one by Cappiello and one by Tertimez.

The active crowd was being whipped into frenzy. The half ended with a 36-28 Monticello lead.

Paredes canned the first shot of the second half. Kelly answered with a feathery touch to the rim. Tertimez and Thompson pulled the lead back to 10, but jolting Joe Meyer hit his third three-pointer of the night. Cooper hit one, but Winski responded by dribbling around him for a baseline basket.

The lead stood at 44-37, with 4:51 to go in the third. Cooper hit another three-pointer, and after each team turned it over, Winski hit another three. Monticello coughed it up again and Meyer hit his fourth shot from beyond the arc. Monticello led 47-43 with 1:56 to go in the third quarter.

Sean Semenetz drove deftly to the basket. Cooper hit a pair of free throws, and the Panthers led 49-45 at the end of the quarter.

Kelly opened the fourth quarter with a basket, and after Paredes missed two free throws, Winski tied the game at 49. Two baskets by Jackson were interspersed with a Bulldogs’ turnover. The clock read 4:36, and Monticello led 53-49. Winski fearlessly took one to the rack, but Cooper drained his third three-pointer. Then Semenetz came right down and sank a three of his own. With 3:47 to go, Monticello’s lead stood at 56-54.

Jackson hit another, but Kelly’s arcing shot was nothing but net. Paredes continued to struggle at the line, missing another pair of free throws. The teams traded baskets and Monticello led 61-60 with the ball in their possession and 1:04 to go in the game.

Jackson got his own rebound and passed across the lane to Goodin, who pumped it back up but clanked it. Sullivan West had the ball with 44 seconds to go, but Semenetz committed a potentially disastrous foul away from the ball. Paredes, who was six-for-six from the line against Burke, missed his fifth straight free throw. The Bulldogs came down the floor with 16 seconds to go.

When Sementz drove the lane, Monticello collapsed its defense, leaving Meyer wide open with a great look at the basket. Semenetz kicked it out and Meyer drained the game-winning shot with three seconds remaining.

A jubilant Sullivan West team rushed at each other while the Panthers looked stunned and dejected.

“Our kids showed something tonight,” said Sullivan West coach Rick Ellison. “If Paredes had made those free throws, we were going to draw up a plan for a three by Semenetz. He played his heart out tonight. They shot the ball so well. At half time, I said, ‘We’ve got to hang in there’.”

Ellison was complimentary of his own players and Monticello’s. “They’re a tough team. We just hoped our kids would compete and play hard. This was great high school basketball. Our kids were doubting themselves. Hopefully now they know they’re good enough to play with these teams,” he said.

Monticello coach Dick O’Neill was satisfied with his team’s offense, but he said, “We didn’t get it done defensively. We got our shots, the lead, but were just two-for-eight from the line. We gave them too much room.”

As to the defensive lapse on the last play, O’Neill said, “With a one-point lead, you go back and defend your man.

“This was disappointing, but we’ll be fine,” he said.

Meyer led Sullivan West (12-3) with 17 points, including five three-pointers. Kelly had 16 and Winski had 12. The Bulldogs canned eight three-point shots.

Tertimez led the (9-5) Panthers with 18 points. Cooper had 17.