Basketball

An octet of Sullivan County basketball teams enter Section Nine tourney

By RICHARD A. ROSS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — It’s every team’s dream to make it to sectionals. But for many teams that hope often becomes a dream deferred. This week, however, eight Sullivan County teams enter the big dance with hopes that by Sunday, March 8, they lay claim to that elusive jewel, a Section Nine championship.

That in and of itself is an awesome catch, and it brings the allure of entering the state tournament and vying against other sectional champions to reach the state final four. The boys state tournament is held at the Glens Falls Civic Center on March 13 and 14. The girls tourney takes place at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy the same weekend.

Sullivan County girls contenders in the Section Nine tourney are as follows: In Class D, the No. 5 Lady Blue Devils of Roscoe play at No. 4 S.S. Seward. No. 3 Livingston Manor travels to play No. 2 Chapel Field at Pine Bush High School. In Class C, the No. 3 Tri-Valley Lady Bears travel to No. 2 Millbrook. In Class B, the No. 6 Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs head to No. 3 Highland.

On the boys side of the ledger in Class D, No. 3 Livingston Manor travels to No. 2 S.S. Seward and Family hosts Chapel Field. In Class C, top-seeded Tri-Valley hosts No. 4 Rhinebeck, while Class B No. 5 Sullivan West travels to No. 4 James I. O’Neill.

Class C games are semifinals, while the Class B and D games are quarterfinals.

Finals will be held at SUNY New Paltz as follows:

Friday, March 6: Class C girls at 5:30 p.m.; Class C boys at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, March 7: Class B girls at 11:00 a.m.; Class B boys at 12:45 p.m. Class B games may be at Mount St. Mary’s College, so check the schedule.

Sunday March 8: Class D girls at noon; Class D boys at 1:45 p.m.