Simply majestic

Richard A Ross
Posted 8/21/12

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — With assiduous practice, the strongest of will and the ability to overcome adversity may come the rewards of sweet victory. At the Sullivan County Indoor Track Championships, …

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Simply majestic

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — With assiduous practice, the strongest of will and the ability to overcome adversity may come the rewards of sweet victory. At the Sullivan County Indoor Track Championships, the Sullivan West Lady Bulldogs and the Tri-Valley Bears added to this season’s division title glory with impressive county wins.

The Lady Bulldogs amassed an uncanny 104 points to blow by defending champion Liberty (73). The Bears defeated second-place Ellenville 102-90 to wrest the county title from Monticello, which won a year ago. Sullivan West, coached by Joe Seidl took first-place medals in the 55 hurdles with Stephanie Schwab (9.59), the 600 with Erin Sumfleth (2:03.8) and the 1500 with Kelsey Dutton (5:45.15). Dutton is the team’s only senior. Liberty got wins in the 1000 from Daniela Mercado (3:32.7), the 55 via Gabriela Nolan (7.71) and the 4×1 lap relay (1:51.9). The Lady Bears won the 4×4 lap relay (10:44.1), and Monticello’s Laura Doherty captured the high jump (4-8). The Tri-Valley boys, coached by Charles Reim, garnered five gold medals as James Tierney won the 55 (8.39), Nathan Bender captured the 600 (1:38.9), Ian Kurzrock won the 1600 (5:00.7), Mohib Khan won the shot put (41.7-5), and the Bears won the 4×4 lap relay (8:46.2). Monticello’s Sean O’Rourke won the 1000 (2:55), and the Panthers prevailed in the 4×1 lap relay (1:39.2). Liberty’s Shane Black won the high jump (5-6). The full story of the meet entitled “Two-for-Two” can be read at www.sportsinsightsny.com.

The same night as the county track meet, the stars aligned for the Monticello Panthers 13-3 (5-0 OCIAA). While the 70-51 January 20 win down at Cornwall was nothing short of historic for being the first Panthers’ win in the Dragons’ lair in the era of Coach Chris Russo, this 67-60 season-sweeping vanquishing of the mighty Dragons in Monticello’s “Pit” was nothing short of cathartic. The victory gave Monticello the Division III crown, its first since 2006. The last time Monticello swept Cornwall in the regular season was back in the ‘90s. Three days later, the Monties bested Class AA Minisink Valley 62-59 in overtime on a three-point shot at the buzzer by senior Mentor Gashi, who posted 16 points in the win over the Warriors that included treys in the fourth quarter and OT. It was Gashi who also provided a pair of treys in the fourth quarter against Cornwall to stave off the Dragons’ second mighty comeback bid. In the third quarter, with Gashi and Sha-Shawn Drayton on the bench, Cornwall cut a 12-point Monticello lead to two before the Monties staved off the charge. Drayton led the Panthers with 20 points, while Devin Williams posted 18. Rafael Ortiz had 13. Monticello will host Fallsburg for its senior night on February 18 in a non-league game. A February 20 league game at Port Jervis will be the regular season finale for the Panthers who are hoping to get the number-one seed in the upcoming Section IX Class A tournament.

The same night as the Monties’ win over Cornwall, Sullivan West 8-5 (2-3 OCIAA) got a last-second layup by Mark Castro on a pass from Ronj Padu to down Chester 60-59. The win secured a playoff berth for Sullivan West, which will vie in the Section IX tournament after missing the playoffs a year ago. Padu led the team with 19 points, while Jiron Kevii posted 14. The win reversed the polarity of a 74-47 thrashing down in Chester on December 18. Sullivan West will travel to Tri-Valley on February 18 to take on the Bears in a league rematch. The Bears, who have also clinched a playoff berth, beat Sullivan West 55-53 in the first league tilt. Sullivan West defeated Tri-Valley 58-54 in the season-opening Walton tournament. The Tri-Valley Lady Bears 7-6 (4-1 OCIAA) clinched a playoff berth with a 46-20 win over Sullivan West 4-10 (0-5), which was eliminated from playoff admission. The Lady Bears vied with Chester on February 17 in the first of a pair of league games in Division V, which is still up for grabs. For photos from this past week’s events, visit www.sportsiny.com.

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