Winter sports

Winter wonderland

Basketball, wrestling and indoor track on tap in first full week of winter sports action

By RICHARD A. ROSS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Icy roads, blustery days and freezing temperatures are enough to make one shiver and shake. But before you bury your head under the covers or opt to hibernate until spring, remember that winter brings fiery sports action that counters the unwelcome weather, heats the blood and enlivens the spirit.

With Thanksgiving now in the rearview mirror, action gets underway for Sullivan County schools with boys and girls basketball, indoor track and wrestling duals.

Freezing temperatures will soon bring snow to ski hills and area ski teams will begin their downhill slalom and giant slalom races.

As many teams and sports make their debuts, it would take pages to recap last year’s performances and list players who graduated as well as those who are on this year’s rosters, be they returnees or newcomers. So as games, meets and matches unfold, those details will be forthcoming as part of the stories of each day’s action.

For now, let’s take a brief look at what’s on tap for the first 10 days of December sport by sport.

Boys basketball

Monticello (Class A) lost to Rondout Valley in the first round of sectionals last season. The Panthers open their season as usual at the Wallenpaupack Tournament as Coach Chris Russo takes over the reins following the retirement of Hall of Famer Dick O’Neill. The tournament was the sight of O’Neill’s 400th career win a year ago.

Sullivan West (Class B) hosted Port Jervis (Class A) in a non-league game on December 2 before heading up to the Walton Tournament where it could play Tri-Valley (Class C), which will also be there. Last year, Sullivan West failed to make it to sectionals, losing to Burke in the last game of the regular season.

Tri-Valley defeated Ellenville (Class B) 66-64 on December 2. Tri-Valley was the two seed in Class C but lost a heartbreaker 47-43 to Millbrook in the semifinals.

Fallsburg (Class B) opens at Ellenville on December 4.

Liberty (Class B) beat O’Neill in the Class B quarterfinals but lost to Red Hook in the semifinals to end up 11-12. Liberty will open at Monroe-Woodbury on December 5. They travel to play Goshen (Class A) on December 9.

Roscoe (Class D) lost its season opener 67-38 to Andes. The Blue Devils headed to Deposit on December 1. Roscoe hosts league rival Livingston Manor on December 4 and play a league game at Family on December 10. Roscoe was 9-11 last season and lost in the Class D quarterfinals to Eldred.

Livingston Manor was 13-7 last year and lost to Chapel Field in the Class D semifinals. Manor opens its season at Roscoe on December 4 in a league fray. They travel to S.S. Seward for a league game on December 9.

Family (Class D) will host Roscoe for a league game on December 10. Family did not make sectionals last season.

Girls basketball

Monticello (Class A) was 5-13 last year. They open their season at Tri-Valley (Class C) on December 3 and then travel to Class B Ellenville on December 8 before hosting Sullivan West (Class B) on December 10.

Sullivan West (Class B) was 18-3 last season and lost to Burke in the Class B semifinals. The Lady Bulldogs open their season at Valley Central on December 5-6 for the Lady Vikings’ tournament.

Fallsburg (Class B) was 2-18 in 2008. The Lady Comets lost to Eldred on December 1. On December 5, they’ll play Roscoe in the consolation game of the Yellow Jackets Tournament.

Liberty (Class B) was also 2-18 a year ago. The Lady Indians lost their season opener at Ellenville on December 1. They travel to the Walton Tournament on December 3 and 4. The Lady Indians will play at Onteora on December 8 and then travel to Class C Tri-Valley on December 10.

Tri-Valley (Class C) was 7-13 in 2007. They hosted Monticello on December 3 and will travel to Roscoe on December 8. They will host Liberty on December 10.

Livingston Manor (Class D) lost to John A. Coleman Catholic in the Class D finals in 2007. They finished at 13-11. The Lady Wildcats opened with a win at the Eldred tournament on December 1. Championship and consolation games will be played on December 5. They will host league rival S.S. Seward on December 10.

Eldred was 5-14 in 2007 and opened its season by beating Fallsburg on December 1. They play Livingston Manor in the tournament finals on December 5.

Family (Class D) will host Roscoe in a league game on December 10.

Indoor track

Weekly developmental meets are held at West Point. On December 5, the second meet of the season will be held in the Gillis Field house. Teams from Sullivan West, Monticello, Eldred, Liberty and Tri-Valley will be on hand to partake in the track and field events.

Wrestling

Section Nine duals get underway this week with Division II Liberty and Eldred winning their opening duals in Highland, while Division I Monticello opened up versus New Paltz in Port Jervis. Port Jervis is the defending Eastern States Champion and had a number of its wrestlers capture Division I championship titles at last year’s sectionals. All of these schools have veteran grapplers ready to take the mat, although graduation saw some of each team’s top wrestlers head out the door.