Basketball

Westies win a wild one in Indian Country

Sullivan West’s Kevin Cappiello rises to the occasion with a flaming fourth-quarter firestorm

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LIBERTY, NY - Basketball is a game often ruled by the big man. But possessing great stature is not always a function of height. Sometimes it’s a matter of heart.

In Sullivan West’s Kevin Cappiello, that heart beats faster when the game is on the line. Although he is often outsized on the court, he can rise head and shoulders above his competition at a critical juncture.

“He doesn’t know how good a player he is and at times he’s his own worst enemy,” Bulldogs coach Bob Menges said, following Cappiello’s electric 16-point fourth quarter that enabled Sullivan West to complete its impressive comeback over a gritty Liberty team.

The Bulldogs needed it all right.

After getting out to an early 7-0 lead, they found themselves in a shootout with Liberty’s long-range gunners, including standout Lakarri Byrd, who nailed a trio of treys in the first quarter to keep Liberty close at 19-15 at the end of the first frame.

Sullivan West was paced early on by a pair of three-pointers from Kienan Garn and 10 points from Derek Hahn, who was giving Liberty fits down low. That led to a mounting foul total for Liberty, which would accrue to 10 in the first half.

The atmosphere in Liberty’s gym, replete with new bright lights, a gleaming paint job and an awesome band pumping out a raucous rhythm of familiar NBA and college basketball riffs, had the crowd in a tizzy.

It’s all part and parcel of new athletic director Jason Semo’s infusion of revived spirit, complete with bright red t-shirts worn by fans in the stands boldly decrying Liberty pride fueled by the pillars of tradition, values and respect.

Respect is something Liberty earned despite its loss.

With the inclusion of newcomer Devin Williamson, the team has morphed into an entirely different mix from its former poor blend on display against Port Jervis the last time this writer covered them.

Williamson is athletic and quick and gives Liberty an added weapon. He can slash to the rim, shoot the long ball and bring the crowd to its feet with an electrifying dunk.

He did just that with the game tied at 54-all with 5:35 to go in the fourth quarter as he slammed one through the cylinder over Hahn and Garn.

Unfortunately, the high voltage play actually switched the game polarity as Williamson was called for a technical foul for pulling himself up on the rim. Sullivan West got the momentum back on its next possession and never trailed again.

Liberty kept up the heat in the second quarter with three-point shots from Byrd, Rashaun Sellers and André Brand. They outscored Sullivan West 15-14 to pull within three at 33-30 at the break.

The Indians went on a rampage in the third quarter.

After Hahn extended the Bulldogs’ lead to five, Williamson’s athletic move inside, and a three by Brand, tied it up. Cappiello got a great inlet pass from Jason Leewe to can a bucket and drew a foul to get the three-point margin back. But it was short-lived.

Liberty stormed by the Bulldogs, as Brand hit a pair of free throws and followed up with consecutive baskets, including another three. A steal and a lay up by Sellers gave the Indians a 44-35 lead as the band amped up its volume during a time out.

Both team coaches schemed.

Sullivan West was having turnover woes, as it coughed up the rock five times in the third quarter. Liberty had similar issues in the second quarter with seven turnovers that hurt their bid to take the lead even earlier.

Liberty held a 50-41 lead with 1:24 remaining in the quarter, when Liberty foul trouble began to enable Sullivan West to eat away at Liberty’s lead. Cappiello hit three-of-four from the stripe and Hahn nailed one of two.

A three-pointer at the buzzer by Sullivan West newbie James Spruill cut Liberty’s lead to six at 52-46 as the third quarter expired.

Byrd nailed his first shot of the fourth quarter, sailing airborne over the heads of his defenders. Sullivan West countered by moving Hahn to the high post with his pair of double teamers clinging close, and gave Alan Ackermann room down low for a pair of easy buckets and a pair of free throws.

Following the Williamson dunk, which put Liberty up 56-54, Cappiello’s one-of-two technical shots and a subsequent electrifying drive through the lane put Sullivan West back on top by one. An Ackermann free throw made it a two-point margin. Sellers tied it up again.

With an Ackermann put-back, Sullivan West began its surge as Cappiello went into hyper mode, canning five straight points, including a three. Byrd, who was Cappiello’s AAU teammate this summer on Semo’s travel team, answered with his fourth three of the night on his way to a team-high 19 points, which he shared with Brand.

But Cappiello would not be eclipsed. By quarter’s end, he had hit six shots from the floor, including a three, and went three-for six from the line. He ended with a game-high 28 points.

Liberty (2-7, 0-3 OCIAA) missed all five of its free throw attempts in the final frame as Sullivan West (5-3, 3-0 OCIAA) pulled out the key win, setting up another Division IV battle with John S. Burke.

“I told my team it’s Sullivan West and Burke vying for the division. It’s become the norm,” said Menges, who was very pleased with the effort of his veterans and young players. Asked if he was worried by Liberty’s third-quarter run, he said, “For us to come back on the road in this game showed a lot of resilience.”

Liberty coach Dave Slater said his team played well for 28 and a half minutes. “We need to get that final three and a half minutes down and we’ll be fine,” Slater said. Liberty missed its next chance against Fallsburg on January 5 on a last-second Comets shot, sending the Indians south at 0-4 in the division. Liberty had previously bested the Comets 60-44 in a non-league fray. Liberty goes on to play Class A Goshen and Monticello, two tough opponents. A team with talent galore, the rematches with Burke, James I. O’Neill and Sullivan West will be key. There’s plenty of season left, but the tribe has to don their warpaint and take no prisoners.

Panthers coach Dick O’Neill was in the stands scouting both Sullivan West and Liberty.