SULLIVAN COUNTY NY — Every player on a team has a role. When those are understood, and there is ample talent afoot, an unflagging work ethic in place and the indomitable will to give 100% night after night, success becomes more attainable, and a life in the postseason lottery looms as an increasingly greater possibility. During the course of high school basketball’s 18-game regular season, teams will have their mettle tested by staunch adversaries, injuries, player ineligibility issues, sometimes questionable officiating—and of course those nights where the shots just won’t fall. This past week offered its share of such challenges as well as the flip side of stunningly successful outings.

Referencing misfortune, one need only look at the Eldred boys team. As Claudius notes in “Hamlet,” “When troubles come, they come not as single spies but in battalions.” Having to sit four of his five starters for rules infractions, Coach J.J. Gass felt the lesson was far more important than the game itself as the Yellowjackets prepared to take on Class C Sullivan West for the second time this season in a non-league fray. Having another player injured during warm-ups, and seeing his star player David Powers heading to the hospital for X-rays on an injured wrist, clearly made for a trying night, as Sullivan West battered Eldred 68-43. Westie senior Ronj Padu led the charge with 22 points. He was abetted by 14 points from Jiron Kevii and 12 from Noah Bauer that included a trio of treys. The Westies improved to 3-2, while Eldred fell to 2-5. Sullivan West’s girls (2-5) found themselves on the wrong end of a 64-29 battering by Monticello (3-3). Details of those two games can be found on sportsinsightsny.com in articles entitled “Wheel Of Misfortune” and “Fire and Ice.” Yami Reyes led the Lady Panthers with 20 points. She had four three-pointers. Monticello’s boys got their biggest regular season win in years as they defeated Cornwall in the Dragons’ lair, 70-51. Devin Williams scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half as Monticello improved to 6-3 (1-0 OCIAA). Sha-Shawn Drayton added 18 points. It was a good week for Tri-Valley (5-3) as the boys defeated Roscoe 74-39 and then downed Livingston Manor 61-34. Justin Swarthout led the way in the Bears’ win with 14 points. Robert Worden Jr. had 11 and Zach Nilsen posted 10. Sullivan West hosted Tri-Valley on January 10 in a league fray. The T-V girls (2-4) downed Livingston Manor. Caroline Martin had a game-high 17 points in the Lady Bears’ 45-17 win over Livingston Manor. T-V’s league game at Chester on January 9 was postponed due to school closings. Sullivan West’s Anthony Rydell was named to the NYS Class C All-State football team. Andrew Stabbert earned an honorable mention. They were the only two Sullivan County players to earn that storied honor. For albums of photos, visit www.sportsinsights.smugmug.com.