Summer league basketball Week 2

You play; you learn

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — Yes, they do keep score in summer league basketball games at Sullivan County Community College and to be sure, there are team standings posted at the end of each week.

But the main agenda in summer league is not about winning or losing, it’s about getting playing time and learning the nuances of the game.

As such, kids who have never seen time in the fast and furious milieu of varsity basketball are getting valuable minutes on the hardwood this summer. It’s also a great opportunity for coaches to see what skills and potential kids have and to give those kids a chance to market their wares in the hiatus between the ‘real’ seasons when wins and losses matter.

For the Sullivan West’s boys’ team, which is now 3-0 after defeating Roscoe 72-35 on July 13, summer league is an opportunity for players like Paul Pitz, Kevin Pinkel, Alan Ackermann, Jonah LaGrutta, Garret Owen, Brian Schmidt, Ross Bernhardt and Kienan Garn to show their skills. Garn was not in attendance for the Roscoe game but the others were on the floor for major minutes.

Ackermann looked impressive with his rebounding and Pitz continued to show his agility. Veteran Brett Youmans seems tireless and highly motivated. Roscoe’s Jayson Harris, John Clancy, Tyler Schmidt, Alex Feeney, Seth Darbee, Adam Klein, Pat Mershon, Justin Haas and Troy Kirchner took the floor. Team leader Dan DeVantier was off at Five Star Basketball Camp.

Roscoe kept it close in the early going with good contributions from Clancy and Harris who opened Roscoe’s scoring with a three pointer. Brian Schmidt got the Bulldogs going on a run with 7:20 to go in the first half. That shot was followed by a steal by Pitz, a shot, a blocked shot, a free throw and another basket from varsity veteran Derek Hahn. Brett Youmans and Pitz added to the fray as the Bulldogs pulled away. Speaking of pulling away, last week’s newspaper incorrectly reported the score in the opener as Sullivan West 69, Hancock 41. Actually, the score was 69-11! In the second game, Livingston Manor, anchored by veterans Ethan McCann, Tim Bryant and Rob Moore, had little difficulty handling Sullivan West’s ‘B’ team made up of junior varsity players. This week features the first match up between Sullivan West’s ‘A’ team and Liberty which will take place on July 20 at 7:10.

On the girls’ side of the court, the Sullivan Starz were busy shutting out a young Liberty team. The game began on a 19-0 run. Each team had players on the floor who were not part of the varsity picture last season. For Sullivan West those players included Donna Kelly, Lauren Ellison, Patty Knack and Erin Bernhardt. Sullivan West moved to 3-0 by virtue of the win. In the earlier game Downsville was all over Fallsburg by the score of 45-10. Sullivan West will meet up with Ellenville on July 20 at 7:10 this week.