Section Nine Basketball Tournament Match-Ups

Ready to rumble

By RICHARD A. ROSS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — March Madness began on February 25 as the first group of nine Sullivan County teams tipped it up for the right to advance in this year’s Section Nine Basketball Tournament. This year’s boys field included Class A Monticello, Class B Liberty, Class C Tri-Valley and Class D Eldred and Livingston Manor.

Livingston Manor got a career-high 33 points from freshman Marissa Diescher to down The Family School 63-51. The Lady Wildcats advance to take on top-seeded Coleman. Monticello’s boys fell to Rondout Valley 46-30 as coach Dick O’Neill’s career ended with a record of 406-186 for a .686 winning percentage over 36 years.

On the girls side of the ledger, Class B Sullivan West looked to build on its recent wins over Burke and S.S. Seward to continue its run in the postseason. Roscoe, The Family School and Livingston Manor threw their hats in the Class D wars.

Here is what the week looks like with each school’s seed in parenthesis. All games through the semifinals are played at the higher seed.

Visit riverreportersports.com for in-depth sectional coverage.

February 25

• Monticello (6) lost to Rondout Valley (3)

• Sullivan West girls (3) hosted

Pine Plains (6)

• Liberty/O’Neill winner at Red Hook (1)

• Eldred boys at John A. Coleman

Catholic (1)

• Livingston Manor boys (3) vs Chapel

Field (2) at S.S. Seward

• Tri-Valley (2) hosts Millbrook (3)

• Sullivan West/Pine Plains winner vs Burke/Spackenkill winner

• Monticello/Rondout Winner vs winner of Goshen (7) New Paltz (2)

• Class D girls final 5:30 at SUNY Orange

• Class D boys final 6:45 at SUNY Orange

• Class B girls final noon at SUNY Orange

• Class B boys final 1:45 at SUNY Orange

• Class C boys final 1:45 at SUNY Orange

• Class A boys final 5:15 at SUNY New Paltz