SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — There are two possible directions for teams: To head north means to be on the upswing toward success, while heading south stands for the opposite tendencies. Indeed, the ultimate goal is to reach the Northern Lights, that glowing cascade of stunning beauty, which can only be seen by teams that can survive the arduous journey to postseason brilliance.

For the Monticello Panthers boys basketball team, four stunning early-season victories against larger schools have left a glow on the waning days of 2014 and may augur an even brighter path ahead for a competitive run in 2015. Following the team’s victories in the Lake Region Tip-Off Classic over East Stroudsburg North and Lackawanna Trail, the Monties have added a pair of victories over larger Class AA schools in their 71-55 Jingle Ball Classic vanquishing of the Pine Bush Bushmen and this past weekend’s 74-55 demolition of the Monroe-Woodbury Crusaders. Clearly the Monties (4-1) are heading due north. Their lone loss came against Class AA Middletown, a team many have pointed to as the section’s crown jewel. The win over the Crusaders featured 31 points from senior Devin Williams, who also thrilled the crowd with authoritative dunks, several of which were also provided by fellow senior Sha-Shawn Drayton, who posted 13 points in the win. Drayton led the way in the win over Pine Bush with 22 points.

The Tri-Valley girls (1-2; 1-0 OCIAA) got their first win of the season, their first league victory with a 48-38 triumph over S.S. Seward. Caroline Martin led her team with 12 points. The win stopped a two-game losing streak that had continued with a home-opening 45-39 loss to Class B Ellenville. Meanwhile, the T-V boys improved to 2-2 (1-0 OCIAA) with a non-league 74-55 win over Liberty and a dominating league win over Tuxedo. Eldred’s girls continued their local success with a 46-23-league win over Livingston Manor. They fell to Pine Plains in a non-league game at Bard College by the score of 45-33. The Sullivan West girls eked out a dramatic 42-40 win over Chapel Field with an eleventh-hour three pointer by Alli Hemmer. The Lady Bulldogs (1-4; 0-1 OCIAA) subsequently lost a league game to Tuxedo 48-21. The Fallsburg girls improved to 5-1 (1-0 OCIAA) with a 39-37 league win over Burke. For albums of photos visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com.