Basketball

End of the line

All Sullivan County teams eliminated in Section Nine tourney

By RICHARD A. ROSS

NEW PALTZ, NY — Just a week ago, eight Sullivan County teams were poised to make a run in this year’s Section Nine basketball tournament. That run came up short for each, as seven of eight were eliminated in first-round games. Tri-Valley’s boys recorded a victory before being ousted in the finals by Millbrook.

Here is a recap of the exit wounds:

BOYS: Fifth-seeded Sullivan West lost its Class B quarterfinal game 72-49 on the road to James I. O’Neill. Brad Reimer had 17 points for the Bulldogs (12-8). O’Neill went on to lose to eventual champion John S. Burke, who then beat Spackenkill 61-60 in OT.

Family School, the Class D fourth seed, fell to fifth-seeded Chapel Field 55-33 in Hancock. Family ended its season at 12-9.

Third-seeded Livingston Manor lost to second-seeded S.S. Seward 64-62 on a pair of free throws sunk by Seward’s David Oliver with 12.3 seconds left. Shane Lewis and Mike Hendrickson each had 13 points for Manor, which played Seward tough in all three outings this year. Manor ended its season at 13-6. Seward lost to John A. Coleman Catholic in the finals.

Top-seeded Tri-Valley won its Class C semifinal 61-57 in overtime at home against fourth-seed Rhinebeck before losing to number-two Millbrook 44-39 in the finals (see stories in this paper).

Girls: Third-seeded Livingston Manor fell to number-two Chapel Field 55-33 in a Class D semifinal played at Pine Bush. Marissa Diescher led the Lady Wildcats with 19 points. Manor finished its season at 14-6. Chapel Field went on to lose to John A. Coleman Catholic in the finals. Number-five Roscoe lost to number-four S.S. Seward 59-37 in Florida. Class D Roscoe finished up at 8-13.

Number-three seed Tri-Valley lost to number-two seed Millbrook 37-21. Tri-Valley ended its season at 13-8. Millbrook fell to Tuxedo in the finals.

Six-seeded Sullivan West fell to third-seeded Highland 30-35 in a Class B quarterfinal on the road. Katrina Graby had 13 points for the Lady Bulldogs, who ended their season at 11-10.