Class D boys finals

We are Family

Gahan propels Falcons to Sullivan’s only Class D title

By RICHARD A. ROSS

NEW PALTZ, NY — Amid the whirl and the uproar of the 2006 Section 9 tournament, the story of The Family School’s dramatic late effort comes to define all that is magical and miraculous about high school basketball.

While Sullivan County’s attention prior to the tourney swirled around Monticello, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley, the little Hancock school, which is a home to kids whose problems range far beyond what other kids can fathom, was a footnote in the headlines. Nine county teams entered the tournament and eight of them lost in their opening round games. But not the Falcons.

These kids, with unbridled faith and unity, showed character and relentless passion in a stunning 58-52 come-from-behind win over Chapel Field in the Class D final on March 4.

Though the Falcons had lost twice this year to top-seeded Chapel Field, including a disastrous 72-60 loss that was plagued by injuries on January 18, and a 75-66 score on February 13, the third-seeded Falcons figured out a few things prior to this fated match up.

First and foremost, according to the championship game’s leading scorer Will Gahan, the team needed to erase the past games from their mindset and unite in the belief that they could win. Falcon coach Ted Towsley also had a new wrinkle up his sleeve.

The Family School showed very little of its press against the Lions in their two previous encounters, but this time out, down the stretch, the Falcons created havoc by pressuring the ball.

“In past games, even if we beat their press, they’d double up on our point guard, and use another player to take away the cutback lane. We practiced to get the ball inside below the three-point line. We figured if we could get it into Will or Jason Peck, we’d have a chance to win,” Towsley said.

The tactic stunned Lion coach Joe Canazon, who hadn’t seen The Family School do this before. The Falcons’ adjustments proved disruptive to the normally fluid Lions. Add in The Family School’s awesome control of the offensive boards, which allowed Gahan to score eight points in the final 2:27, and you have the recipe for the kind of mental and physical preparation that yields titles.

Canazon gave The Family School all the credit.

“They were the better team tonight,” he said. “They really played a great game. It’s tough to beat a team three times. We tried to keep them off the boards but they were pretty tough,” he said.

The Family School’s intensity was in evidence early on, as Gahan blocked shots that enabled the pumped-up Falcons to get the game’s early lead off of a trey from Van Riper and four from Gahan.

But Chapel Field is one of the area’s most talented teams. It didn’t take long for the Lions to survive the opening flurry and move out to a 15-8 lead after the first quarter, with major contributions from Daryl Gros, and a three, coupled with a two, from Peter Lopez.

The two teams played even in the second quarter, scoring 11 each to enter the locker room with the Lions nursing a 26-19 lead. The Lions had benefited from three-pointers from Andrew Lopez and Joe Canazon. Van Riper hit two treys, and Gahan added the team’s other five points to the second-quarter tally.

It was in the third quarter that Family evinced its prowess with the press at both ends of the floor. The result manifested itself in an unfathomable 21-12 outscoring of the prolific Lions. Two-men-at-the-ball defense and Gahan’s put-backs turned the tide. A three from Van Riper, plus another bucket, helped the Falcons to finally get on top behind a three by Nassi. But the Lions did not relent.

Family led 40-38 heading into the final frame, but Chapel Field roared right back on top. Getting nine points from Gros and four from Jordan Christie, which included a resounding dunk with 2:50 to go, the Lions held a three-point lead as they pumped their fists into the air, heading into a time out.

But The Family School marshaled its collective wits and the heart as soul of the team. Gahan, Van Riper, Jason Peck, Chris Berra, Shervin Nassi and Ben Laufer reached down for that something extra.

Gahan turned from great player into an offensive-rebounding monster. Virtually every missed shot ended up in his hands. Using his six-foot-five presence and his ability to elevate, he softly banked home the eight points that would propel his team to the school’s most defining moment. Peck added eight, as well, and The Family School put the hammer down on Chapel Field that eventually was forced to foul.

It was the first Section 9 title for The Family School, who will now travel to Westchester County Center on March 8 to play Pleasantville for the right to advance.

Chapel Field has much to be proud of. They turned around a disappointing 6-12 2004-05 season tally into a 13-9 record this year. Their run afforded them a division title, fueled by a perfect 8-0 record, and a legitimate chance to make some noise in the postseason. They started this year at 0-5, but found their heart and mettle to turn things dramatically around. Gros, Peter Lopez, Andrew Lopez and Jon Canazon are all seniors. They accepted the defeat with class and the finest deportment, but their faces told the story of their deep-abiding disappointment.

The Family School team is packed with seniors and their experience through a schedule that pitted them against many bigger school opponents paid off in the intensity of this big game. In addition to those mentioned, Luke Hoge, Ian O’Keefe and TJ Roney will also be graduating this year.

The Family School (15-7) is a place where kids, whose lives have been troubled, are afforded an environment to work out their problems and make something positive happen. “We talked about the fact that we all have personal problems and about not listening to those fears and doubts but rather believing in ourselves and this team,” said Towsley.

These kids did that for themselves, their classmates and their school.

For the team, the staff, the fans and the entire Family School community, this win was a tribute to the kind of unity that can only be found in a tight-knit family, bonded by love, respect and unselfish devotion.

For an album of pictures from the Falcons’ championship game visit riverreportersports.com.

2006 Section 9 champions

Boys

Girls

Last year’s champions boys champions were: Class AA, Monroe-Woodbury; Class A, Red Hook; Class B, Sullivan West by forfeit of Burke; Class C, Millbrook; and Class D, S.S. Seward. The girls champions were: Class AA, Kingston; Class A, Cornwall; Class B, Burke Catholic; Class C, Millbrook; and Class D, S.S. Seward.