Basketball

Little by little

Eldred defeats relentless Roscoe in league tilt to garner third straight win

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ROSCOE, NY - When your season begins with five straight losses, a victory can be ever so sweet. So imagine how delicious four in a row can be, especially if the last two bring you to .500 in your division. That’s the current status for Eldred, now 4-5 (2-2 OCIAA), following its workman-like 62-54 road win over a Roscoe team that never gave up on January 10 and a win over St. Rose.

For Eldred coach Charlie Donnelly and his 30-plus year friend and adversary, Roscoe coach Fred Ahart, wins don’t come as easily as they did at other times in their remarkable careers. Last year, Ahart reached the 400-win milestone.

Veterans of many campaigns and masters of the game, both coaches teach, encourage, inspire and demand that their players give an uncompromising commitment and an all-out effort. Win or lose, that’s what you get from Eldred and Roscoe.

Both men are highly respected and for good reason. Over the years, they’ve coached teams that were tough, well disciplined and presented a daunting challenge for their opponents. Many fine players have donned the uniforms of the Yellowjackets and the Blue Devils and each time the teams play, there is something special in the air.

Donnelly returned to coach Eldred last year after a hiatus. When he resumed the reigns over the program, which had struggled mightily in his absence, people knew that a sea change was underway. Both Ahart and Donnelly can tell you that coaching is hard work, especially in the lean years. But when you love the game and treasure the opportunity to work with kids like they do, it’s worth it no matter what the record says.

This year though, it looks as if both teams are on the way up. At present, Roscoe is 6-4, although it is 0-4 in Division VI following the loss to Eldred. But were the season to end today, both teams would make it to sectionals, Eldred by virtue of its division record and Roscoe by dint of its overall mark.

Donnelly schooled his team well when it came to dealing with Roscoe’s number-one threat, senior Jayson Harris. A rangy leaper and a deft dribbler, Harris can wreak havoc with his long-range shooting or his slashing to the basket. Harris would score 17 in this game, leading all scorers. With fellow standout Cody DeRosia on the bench for more than half the game due to foul trouble, Harris had to contend with Eldred’s concentrated defense. He still got the go-ahead shot with 3:48 to put his team up 51-50. But Eldred’s Jason Jennings answered right back to give Eldred the lead they would not relinquish down the stretch. In the game’s closing minutes, Roscoe exerted great energy but could not overcome Eldred’s 12-3 run. Ten of those points came at the free- throw line as Roscoe was forced to foul.

The win extended Eldred’s win streak to three. The Yellowjackets began the new year with a win over Sussex Vo-Tech and added to that with a 53-51 league win over The Family School.

Donnelly knew that in order to garner another precious win, they’d not only have to handle Harris, but also keep Cody DeRosia and Joe Ladenhauf, Roscoe’s two other main threats, somewhat at bay.

Eldred led this game most of the way but the two teams played close in a match up that was often fast and furious. Eldred’s main advantage was in its rebounding, which afforded the Yellowjackets second- and third-chance opportunities, particularly for Bobby Moriggia, who muscled his way back up on misses to score or draw fouls.

Moriggia scored 15 points by night’s end, one behind teammate Kojo Williams who did his own share of rebounding and driving to the basket. Donnelly stresses a team effort and he got it with senior John Scully contributing 12 points and Jason Jennings adding 10 more.

Harris’ scoring exploits are no secret thanks to the statistics now visible on the Internet, but Ahart was counting on spreading the scoring by getting other players into the mix to share the load. Unfortunately, DeRosia’s early foul trouble not only removed a key weapon, it allowed Eldred to hone in more on Harris. Ladenhauf would do his share by netting 16. DeRosia had eight, as did Clay Banks and small but active Adam Hendrix.

Eldred led 18-12 at the end of the first quarter, withstanding the first of several Roscoe runs that saw the Blue Devils jump right back in after trailing 11-4. Moriggia and Mike Walton helped Eldred get out to the early lead. Both had three-pointers in the first quarter. Moriggia netted seven points and Walton added five. Williams netted four in the first frame.

Roscoe closed to within two by the half, trailing 26-24. Harris had his most productive quarter as he scored eight of the Blue Devils’ 12 points in the frame. Moriggia netted six of Eldred’s eight in the second period.

The lead seesawed back and forth early in the third period with consecutive three pointers by Roscoe’s Hendrix, Eldred’s Williams and Roscoe’s Banks.

A steal by Eldred’s Mike Walton and a subsequent lay up tied it at 33 all. The teams would knot it up again at 35 apiece. Roscoe would take the lead once again, but a final Eldred run gave the Yellowjackets a 43-42 lead heading into the final frame.

Trailing by three, following a bucket by Williams, Roscoe lost an opportunity to tie or go ahead with four straight misses at the stripe by DeRosia, whose sporadic minutes on the floor had deprived him of his rhythm.

Roscoe kept on coming right down to the final buzzer but Eldred’s free throw shooting assured them of the victory.

“I thought Roscoe played with a lot of energy tonight,” Donnelly said. “It was difficult for us to match the energy they put out. We feel fortunate to get a win. We’re struggling and beginning to crawl our way back in. Our energy has got to be for four quarters or we’re going to struggle. We also need to do a better job of finishing,” he added, referencing shots missed in close by his team.

Donnelly had high praise for his team. “These kids give me everything they have. I appreciate them. We’ll try to keep things going in the right direction.

Ahart strongly praised Eldred as well. “Defensively, they played very well. They recognize what an outstanding player Jayson Harris is and they did a good job on him. When teams do that, we need others to step in, and unfortunately Cody’s foul trouble was a factor tonight.”

Asked about positives, Ahart said, “I like the way we played hard right to the end. This team has been doing that this year. Roscoe is missing senior John Clancy who is out with a broken hand.

Eldred shot 18 for 34 from the free throw line. Roscoe was nine for 18.

Eldred (4-5) defeated St. Rose in a non-league game on January 14 and will travel to S.S. Seward on January 18 for another non-league tilt. Roscoe downed Margaretville, traveled to Chapel Field on January 16, and will visit The Family School on January 18.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of game photos.