NCN SPORTS BLOG

-Courtesy of Tom Forde, NCN Sports Reporter-

Coming into last nights Class B semifinal showdown at the County Center there was a lot of people who thought that Putnam Valley would be overmatched against Briarcliff, who is an exceptionally deep and talented team. Most skeptics thought that the Tigers’ run to the championship game would end at the hands of their league rivals. Most everyone thought this would be the end, everyone except for the Putnam Valley girls and yours truly (read the prediction from days before). This is not any disrespect to Don Hamlin and his Bears who had a phenomenal season and were some of the nicest girls on and off the court but something told me that this game and this tournament would belong to the Tigers. It is sort of an intangible element that makes the Putnam Valley girls basketball team so dangerous in a single elimination format and so exciting to watch. Christine Kemp and Kim Kastuk have been a dynamic duo since day one but the big time contributions of junior Nicole Scott have made this powerful one-two punch a terrific triple threat. That is exactly what Briarcliff got a steady dose of last night (Tuesday February 27) as Kemp (17 points, 3 steals), Kastuk (10 points, 3 steals), and Scott (12 points, 7 rebounds) bounced the Bears from the sectional tournament with a 43-29 victory over their top seeded rival. From the introduction of the starting lineups there was an infectious energy permeating from the Putnam Valley bench and as always there was Kemp at the center of the energetic celebration before the game ever started. That is what is unique about Kemp as a star point guard and a leader. Her competitive motor is always running at full speed and her teammates feed off of it. You’ll see Kastuk jumping up and down alongside Kemp and Scott doing likewise. They all play with tremendous heart and energy that is incredibly entertaining to watch. Perhaps the greatest moment of the entire season for me occurred last night after Kemp had shot a three pointer that drew nothing but air. Instantly the Briarcliff fans, clad in orange and black, reigned down from the rafters with an “AIRBALL!” chant. The kept the verbal harassment up every time she touched the ball. The type of annoying chorus that would distract most athletes but Christine Kemp is no normal player. She came down the court ran to the corner just beyond the three point arc and fired a three pointer straight through the hoop. The chant suddenly fell silent and Kemp backpedaled back on defense pointing directly up the Briarcliff fans in the rafters as if to say, “I don’t hear you talking now!” It was classic because it wasn’t scripted. It’s just the type of player she is, as passionate as she is talented. Now Kemp and her teammates are four quarters away from getting their hands on the gold ball. If they prevail the Putnam Valley girls can take a page out of their leaders’ book and point straight at all those doubters who didn’t believe and say, “I don’t hear you talking now!” Congratulations Tigers, looking forward to being there Saturday night when you shock the section.

Personal Notes: By the way not to brag but I am now 7-1 in my predictions thus far in the tournament stayed tuned for my championship picks…Putnam Valley has some of the wildest and most passionate fans around in my opinion. They had one guy dressed as a banana, I don’t know what it means but it was funny and brought good luck to the Tigers. Banana Boy (As I’ll refer to him) and all the Painted Pack (there is a lot of face paint in the crowd) better rest their vocals and bring their A game Saturday night!

Tearful End for Angela Pescetti

The worst part of a game like last nights is that there has to be a losing team and for Briarcliff that was a harsh reality that they unfortunately faced when time ran out on their championship hopes. The girls, who I have covered extensively this season, were understandably distraught after the buzzer sounded. But perhaps no one player had more invested in the game than Briarcliff senior Angela Pescetti. She has been a constant fixture year in and year out for half a decade in the Briarcliff backcourt and now she has played her final game for the team she has given five years of her life to. Her career was full of great highlights including joining the very exclusive rankings of the 1,000 point club and being NCN athlete of the month this past December. But what you don’t see on the court is the type of person Angela Pescetti is off the court. She is one of the most supportive teammates and the single most honest athlete I will ever interview. What you see is what you get with Angela Pescetti and what the Bears will see when they look at their starting lineup next season will be very strange. There will be no number 22 and nor should there be. No player in the future should be seen wearing the number of one of Briarcliff’s greatest players because the Briarcliff players will never see another player like her anytime soon. Thanks for the memories and all that you gave to the sport Angela, you’ll be missed.

Before last night the only previous time that I had stepped foot inside the County Center was in 1997, when a scrappy Poughkeepsie squad defeated Elton Brand and the Peekskill Red Devils. I was only 12 years old at the time.

I had loosely followed Brand through his high school playing days, even getting his autograph on a pink pamphlet that had Peekskill’s schedule printed on it. I still have it to this day … and if I get around to it, I’ll scan it and put it up on the blog.

Needless to say—on that fateful night where the mighty Red Devils were basically penciled in to win a third straight title—I witnessed one of the biggest sports upsets of my young life. In fact, it still registers as one of the most amazing underdog stories I’ve seen.

A small, but quick point guard, sliced through Peekskill’s defense, creating in the lane and finishing strong, to lead Poughkeepsie. To this day, I cannot remember his name, or his face, nor his future endeavors. But he put on one of the single best performances I had ever seen on a basketball court. Does anyone remember who this player was?

Elton Brand, a senior at the time, struggled mightily from the line. He commanded the paint with authority, grabbing every rebound in sight. But Poughkeepsie’s ‘hack-a-Brand’ philosophy worked out. I remember sitting uneasily in my chair as Brand clanked free throw after free throw off the rim. Poughkeepsie fans paced back and forth along the sidelines screaming, and in some cases they were commanded by security to back away from the metal barriers in front of the court.

The County Center was on fire that night–more intense than I have ever seen it.

Returning 10 years later, in the role of a reporter, I still felt the same burning anxiety and passion that I did when I was 12 years old. My heart felt the peaks and valleys of the game; the same beads of sweat were budding on my palms, and the players had the same ‘all or nothing’ attitude on the court.

So remember, the County Center is a place unlike any other. People will always remember what happens on that court—even a whole decade later.

See you on Thursday night for Peekskill vs. Port Chester

In Inside the Athlete, the eye black will be washed away, and the pads will come off as NCN area student athlete’s answer questions completely out of the realm of sports. Enjoy.

Joe Lombardi

Joe, #33, is the leading scorer on the Briarcliff basketball squad, averaging 17 ppg.

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: Remember the Titans

Q: What was the last song you downloaded?

A: “Be Somebody” by Dre (featuring Keyshia Cole)

Q: Can you cook?

A: No.

Q: Do you do your own laundry?

A: Sometimes

Q: Where is your favorite vacation spot?

A: Puerto Rico

Do you have a good idea for a future Inside the Athlete question?

Email them to ———-> icass@northcountynews.com

White Plains, NY–Joe Lombardi (pictured below) scored 23 points as number one seeded Briarcliff took down fifth seeded Lincoln Hall, 68-51, in the class B semifinals at the County Center. Briarcliff got on the scoreboard first, as senior center Brian Holland (13 points) knocked down a deep three from the corner. Holland continued his strong play through the first quarter, scoring seven points and giving the Bears a 19-11 lead going into the second quarter.

Lincoln Hall was able to fight back in the second, going on a 13-0 run, fueled by the opportunistic play of Sir Aaron Taylor around the basket and capped off by sophomore guard Jamal Johnney’s acrobatic lay-up, giving Lincoln Hall their first lead of the game, 20-19.

However, Lombardi came to the rescue, drawing contact and sinking the ensuing free throws, effectively ending the drought with 3:52 remaining in the first half. Briarcliff Senior forward Kyle Beechum kept the momentum alive, scoring four points and surging Briarcliff to an 8-0 run to end the half, which put them on top 31-25.

Briarcliff came out firing in the second half, as senior guard Alex Gulotta (14 points) knocked down a deep three-pointer, putting the Bears ahead 34-25. The United immediately answered back, going on a mini 6-0 run, which was capped off by a put back by sophomore guard Jesus Liriano. This cut the Briarcliff lead to 36-31. But from that point on the United went ice cold from the field. Briarcliff capitalized, going on a 17-3 run to end the third quarter. Lombardi was instrumental in the run, scoring nine of his 23 points during the stretch. The Bears entered the fourth with a 51-35 lead, which they would never relinquish.

The Bears will take on the winner of the (2) Woodlands vs. (3) Nanuet for the class B crown on Saturday, March 3 @ 5:15.

Personal View

The County Center was electric tonight, as the fans from both Briarcliff and Lincoln Hall came out by the bus loads. In the first half the game was tight, exciting and everything that basketball in the month of March is supposed to be about. Lincoln Hall came out gritty, pressing on the defensive end, stepping in the Briarcliff passing lanes and creating in transition. However, once Briarcliff neutralized the intense pressure, the United were doomed.

Briarcliff settled into their half court offense and punished the United with pin point shooting. Joe Lombardi was a force from 15 feet and in, receiving the ball with his back to the basket and creating with his pivot foot, knocking down short range jumper after jumper over the Lincoln Hall defense.

Once he settled in, Gulotta ran the offense with precision. He also knocked down some big three-pointer’s, which broke the resolve of the United. He is the best pure point guard I have seen all season.

Kyle Beechum and Brendan Holland were both animals on the boards, recording eight rebounds apiece and keeping the ever dangerous Sir Aaron Taylor at bay. Beechum impressed me a lot. Not only with his strong interior play, but also with his ability to put the ball on the floor and break the pressure and find the open man. It was a dazzling performance. Holland also impressed me with his strong play in the middle. He didn’t commit stupid fouls on the shifty Lincoln Hall guards, instead setting his feet and timing each of his five blocks perfectly–not to mention the countless others he altered.

Lincoln Hall showed true guts, wowing the crowd in the first half with their scrappy mentality and full throttle approach to the game of basketball. Jhiquan Jones had the hot hand early, taking the ball right at Holland on numerous occasions with success. He looked to be the go-to-guy for the night–it very Eddy Curry-esque. However, he picked up his third foul at the end of the first half and wasn’t able to be as effective inside for the United in the second half. This clearly hurt them, for he had the best match up in which to score.

Sir Aaron Taylor pulled down 8 rebounds and added 13 points, which is phenomenal by normal standards. But Taylor’s recent play over the past two sectional games–where he averaged over 20 bounds a contest–made tonight’s performance seem rather pedestrian. However, he was still the MVP for Lincoln Hall tonight and for the season. I looked forward to seeing him play night in and night out. To be honest, I’d rather see Taylor play any day of the week than my beloved Knicks. His performances these past few weeks should not be forgotten.

The ice cold shooting that Lincoln Hall suffered from in the third quarter happens. On many, many, many occasions the ball danced and jigged around the rim, falling right, left and any other direction but down through the iron. Although they are the last group of people who would want excuses made for them, the United did a masterful job with a rotation composed mainly of sophomores and juniors. Only one senior on the team, and he chose to remain at the school. Great season United.

On that note … Let’s go Bears.

Time to make the region proud.

And I think they will.

What did everyone think of the game?

I’d appreciate some opinions …

Game Photos (click to enlarge)

Class B

(5) Lincoln Hall vs. (1) Briarcliff

2/27—5:15 p.m.

Musing on Briarcliff: Alex Gulotta, standing at 6ft tall, has a decided height advantage over the smaller Lincoln Hall guards. He should be able to muscle them in a half court set, and shoot over them from behind the arc. Managing the game is key against Lincoln Hall. They have a knack of forcing teams out of their element and away from their game plan. Croton-Harmon, who averaged 65 ppg during the regular season, got caught in a grind it out game against Lincoln Hall, which favored the less offensively talented United. The end result was a Lincoln Hall upset. Therefore, Gulotta needs to set the tempo throughout and dictate how the game will be played. He must follow Coach Evangelista’s game plan to a tee, and not allow Lincoln Hall to determine the pace and flow of the game.

Musing on Lincoln Hall : They are on a torrid streak, going 13-3 over their last 16 games. Sure, Briarcliff is hot as well, going a tremendous 14-2 over their last 16. However, while Briarcliff entered the season as a team, prepared and gelled as a unit from day one, Lincoln Hall had to ‘unite’ as the season progressed, finding their identity along the way. As coach Taylor said, “This team reminds me so much of the ’04-’05 team. We have overcome so much to get to this point.” This is the main reason I like Lincoln Hall. They rely on intangibles as opposed to sheer talent. If Lincoln Hall can out hustle Briarcliff and win the battle on the boards, then they have a shot at pulling off the upset of the tournament. Sir Aaron Taylor is the heart and soul; expect the rest of the squad to feed off his boundless energy. Also, Lincoln Hall will need someone to step up as a scorer, because they don’t have a defined go-to-guy for points. Last game it was Russell Williams, and the game before that it was Malik Feaster. Who will it be this time? My guess is sophomore guard Jesus Liriano.

Prediction: 52-48 … LINCOLN HALL

Class A

(1) Peekskill vs. (12) Port Chester

3/1—8:00 p.m.

Musing on Peekskill: Peekskill has experience on this stage and the best player in the section in Mookie Jones. Jones has a unique combination of ball handling ability, shooting prowess and size. All of these talents are great, however, when matching up against 6″10 Jordan Henriquez and Port Chester, he will have to make his presence known in the paint. Jones must establish himself in the low post on the offensive and defensive end early on. This is especially important on the defensive end where he will need to clean the glass and not allow Henriquez easy put back opportunities. De’Von Beaufort and Michael Smythe will fill the void left from Jones on the perimeter, and both should have huge games from behind the arc.

Musing on Port Chester: I haven’t seen Port Chester this year, but have heard rave reviews of the 6’10 Henriquez and pin point shooting guard Lou Larizza. They will both have to play the games of their lives to take down Peekskill at the County Center. Can anybody fill me in on the Port Chester vs. Peekskill game that took place earlier in the year?

Prediction: Peekskill 69, Port Chester 59

(2) Lakeland vs. (3) Pelham

3/2—8:15 p.m.

Musing on Lakeland: Wayne Everett will be the most athletic player on the court. He will have to perform just as brilliantly as he did against Tappan Zee for the Hornets to win. Lakeland has a very, very fast team with Everett, Ralph Watts and Lou DeMello. In order to maximize their strengths, Lakeland needs to push the pace and look to create in transition. This all starts with strong rebounding, quick outlet passes and swarming defense. The Hornets, who most likely thought they would be facing Spring Valley, should not relax one bit with Pelham on the horizon. They also shouldn’t look past this game towards a match up with Peekskill in the championship. Lakeland must stay composed and focused in their preparation.

Musing on Pelham: I haven’t seen the Pelicans play; however, while briefly looking over their schedule, it appears they struggled against bigger, faster, more athletic teams–with losses to Woodlands and Peekskill. Sure, this logic goes completely out the window come playoff time, especially seeing as they just defeated uber athletic Spring Valley. I’d like to hear added thoughts from everyone on the Pelham vs. Lakeland game that took place on Dec. 27….

Prediction: Lakeland 67, Pelham 63

TELL ME WHY I’M WRONG … REGISTER AND COMMENT AWAY

Briarcliff vs. Putnam Valley, Round 3: Judgment Day

by TOM FORDE, NCN SPORTS REPORTER
This stands to be the best game of the entire girls’ basketball season. It has all the build-up of a heavyweight championship fight in the talent both teams bring to the table, and the established rivalry between the two league foes. Tuesday, February 27 marks the third time the Bears and Tigers will square off this season. Each team won by 14 points on their home court in the previous two meetings. 

This game was destined to happen; it’s only fitting these two teams have to go through one another to have a shot at the Class B championship Saturday, March 3. The County Center lights will be shining bright Tuesday night. One of these local powers will walk off the court for the last time this year, while the other will be four quarters from the gold ball. Here is how I see this marquee matchup …

For Briarcliff to Win …
The Bears will need to pressure the ball and cause turnovers early and often. If they are able to do this then they should have no problem utilizing their fast break offense that has been their bread and butter all season. When in a set offense Briarcliff will need to establish a presence in the post with Shelby Coon controlling the paint and Maggie Blair working the baseline. If they force the Tigers to respect their interior offense Angela and Taylor Pescetti should have open looks from three point land, where they are money from.

For Putnam Valley to Win …
Just by the number five seed next to their name the Tigers will be underdogs but they have proved already that they can beat Briarcliff. Their championship dreams will hinge upon the performance of Christine Kemp and Kim Kastuk. Both are dynamic scorers but also provide that intangible energy that sparks their teammates. Kemp is in my opinion the best all-around player in Class B. She has rare court vision, an eye for the hoop, and a killer instinct. She also has great energy and passion for the game which is evident when every second she is on the court. Kastuk, who was missing in the last Briarcliff game due to illness, is a huge piece of the Putnam Valley championship puzzle. The senior guard has a great first step driving to the hoop and an outside shot to compliment it. If these two senior stars and the likes of Nicole Scott bring the game to Briarcliff and attack the lane then Briarcliff will surrender points or get into foul trouble. The aggressor will win this contest.

Prediction:
I have covered both of these teams extensively throughout the season and have great respect for both. Briarcliff and Putnam Valley are both class programs with wonderful athletes who play with sportsmanship and passion every game. Sadly only one can move on and I am going to go with the underdog in this one. I think that Putnam Valley is an underrated and quite brilliant team. Class B will not see another player like Christine Kemp for a long time and I see her and Kastuk having big games as the Tigers move on and take the title next Saturday (3/3). So I’m taking Putnam Valley in a thriller. But whoever wins this one will be a classic.

Say It Ain’t “O”ver
This past Wednesday (2/21) the Ossining girl’s basketball team knew it would be in for a battle the moment Scarsdale entered their gymnasium and that is precisely what they got. For 32 minutes the Lady “O” gave all they had and hung with the Raiders until the bitter end. That is until Scarsdale’s Christine Yankou caught fire from deep, scoring five of her six three point field goals and 20 of her 23 points in the second half. The outside scoring onslaught was t much for coach Dan Ricci’s squad as Ossining’s season came to a tearful end.

It was not the way they wanted the season to end but Ossining opened a lot of eyes this season and put all of Class AA on notice for next year. Coming from a 5-5 record at Christmas to taking Scarsdale to the limit in the Section 1 quarterfinals is a huge step in the right direction. The Lady “O” will be returning a good amount of their roster and an abundance of talent to make a serious run next season.

Star post player and leading scorer Brittany Garrett, brilliant ball handler and stellar point guard Kelsey Vallach, along with young up and coming stars Alex Venuto and Hayley Awerdick give Ossining all the makings of a champion contender next season. It didn’t work out they way they wanted it to this season but the future is very bright for Dan Ricci’s girls. They were fighters to the end this season and a pleasure to cover.

Back to the Scene of the County Center Crime for Lakeland
It has been talked about since this time last year and talked about far too much if you ask me. Lakeland went into the County Center last year with great hopes and confidence and were unceremoniously and unexpectedly bounced by Our Lady of Lourdes. They were justifiably shocked and disappointed but that was then and this is now. The only people who seem to want to talk about the past are the press and I know from following Steve Fallo’s Hornets all season that the past has no bearing on this team or their present. With that being said Lakeland is now two steps away from the cherished gold ball and the Section 1 Class A crown and Lourdes or ghosts of last year are no where in sight. The first obstacle the Hornets must overcome is fourth seeded Ardsley. While Ardsley is obviously a solid team to have made it to the final four there are just certain teams that have that “it” factor and that is what Lakeland has. They are as dominant a team as I have ever seen on the high school level and are extremely well disciplined. As good as the Hornets are in all phases of the game they refuse to overlook or disrespect any opponent. The next game is always the most important to Lakeland and that is how they will treat the Ardsley game on Friday (3/2).

Here’s how I see this one breaking down…

How to Beat Ardsley …
There is nothing that I can write here that Lakeland doesn’t already know. Telling the Hornets how to win basketball games would be like giving financial advice to a billionaire. Nonetheless, I think all Lakeland has to do is play their game and attack Ardsley with a suffocating press on defense and by pushing the ball up court quickly to tire the Panthers out and keep them on their toes. Ardsley doesn’t have any prolific scorers on offense but rather a well balanced roster that all chips in as they edge out opponents. Shut down one or two of their top offensive players and that should be all she wrote. I would target Danielle Franciosa and Ivana Monserrate to pressure and make the rest of the roster beat you. For Lakeland they can outscore any team at any time with both Sarah Benischek and Amy Voelkel averaging 15 and 13 points per game respectively. Even their third leading scorer Rose Fazio (9.8 ppg) averages the same amount of points as Ardsley’s leading scorer in Franciosa. This Lakeland team is not only frightening on offense but are also the most dominant defensive team in all of Section 1 holding opponents to just over 30 points per game on average. Nothing is holding the Fab Five of Lakeland back this year as they blaze through Ardsley and get their hands on the gold ball come Sunday (3/4). And when they raise that trophy in triumph everyone can forget about the past and show full appreciation to one of the greatest seasons in Lakeland’s or any other school’s athletic history.

Should the men’s and women’s games be stacked on top of each other?

Would you create a new system?

How would you change it?

Should the Class AA games, which are the most desirable, be played in the marquee time slots?

Register and tell me what you think in the comment section.

I’ll post the best argument.

Also, here is the link to the County Center…here

The second round has come to and end, and four teams from the NCN region have qualified for the County center. Check the graphic!

Class A

• 3/1—–(1) Peekskill vs. (12) Port Chester @ 8:00 p.m.
• 3/2—–(2) Lakeland vs. (3) Pelham @ 8:15 p.m.

Class B

• 2/27—–(1) Briarcliff vs. (5) Lincoln Hall @ 4:45 p.m.
• Plays the winner of (2) Woodlands vs. (3) Nanuet

So, who is going to win it all?

I’m interested in what everyone thinks.

Leave a comment.

Croton, NY—Lincoln Hall and Croton-Harmon split their regular season series, however, when it came down to the do or die third match up and a trip to the county center, the United prevailed with a 46-41 win. Sophomore Sir Aaron Taylor (pictured left) was once again the catalyst for Lincoln Hall, recording his second consecutive 20+ rebound game and adding 10 points.

Croton-Harmon jumped out to a quick 15-9 first quarter lead, as Ben Miller led the charge for the Tigers, scoring six of his eight total points in the first quarter alone. Junior guard Ryan Sawyer (12 points) paced the Tigers in the second quarter, recording five points, including a clutch three-pointer with about 2:30 left, putting Croton up 22-16. They took a 24-16 lead into the locker room.

Lincoln Hall came out energized in the second half, going on a 10-2 run, which was capped off by two Jamal Johnney free throws, putting them on top for the first time, 28-26, with 3:56 remaining in the third. However, Croton junior guard Frank Dimmagio answered back, knocking down a deep three, which put the Tigers back in front, 29-28. The lead was short lived, as Lincoln Hall went on a 9-0 run to close out the third. Junior forward Russell Williams was instrumental in the run, scoring six of his game high 13 points during the 3:00 stretch.

Williams continued his hot shooting as the fourth quarter began, draining a long jumper to put Lincoln Hall on top 38-29. However, the Tigers scratched and crawled their way back, going on a 10-0 run, consummated by a Pat Cooney put back, giving the Tigers a 40-39 lead with 3:38 remaining. Williams ceased the United drought, draining a jumper to put them on top, 40-39. But Dimaggio rebutted, slashing to the hoop for a lay-up, regaining a 41-40 Tigers lead.

However, the lead was short lived, as Johnney came back down the court and hit a runner in the lane with 2:48 remaining. Then junior forward Jiquhan Jones knocked down a shot, putting Lincoln Hall on top, 44-41. With :45 remaining, Croton sophomore guard Brandon Sileck had a chance to tie it, but his long range three-point attempt from the corner was off the mark. Liriano scooped up the rebound and dribbled the ball behind his back, breaking up court. He then passed the ball off the Jones, who missed the lay-up. But the omnipresent Taylor was there for the put back, icing the game for Lincoln Hall.

(5) Lincoln Hall will now meet up with (1) Briarcliff in the semifinals at the county center.

Personal View:

Sir Aaron Taylor has now recorded over 40 rebounds in his last two outings while willing his team to victory with sheer hustle and grit. What else can you say about it, really? The tremendous back-to-back performances will do down in history. I asked Taylor about his rebounding technique during the post game, so be sure to listen to the audio. I could attempt to paint a picture of what I saw in the game, but why waste the time? Hear it from the man himself.

Something that may have gone overlooked during the course of the game was the fact that Taylor shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He seemed to struggle against Bronxville from the line, but tonight he was focused and dead on. Taylor will need to remain consistent, especially against number one seeded Briarcliff in the semi-finals.

Although Taylor was the inspirational leader, Lincoln Hall wouldn’t have been in the game without the clutch play of Russell Williams. Williams was strong on the inside, using his wide frame to put back many second chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Nevertheless, he made his biggest impression on the perimeter, knocking down shot after shot from the right wing. Maybe Croton didn’t think the big man had such a fine touch from distance. They never even got a hand in his face, decidedly settling for the mid to long range jump shots. Williams went on to punish the Tigers, taking exactly what they gave him. He had the trust of his coach, the trust of his teammates, and rewarded them with a brilliant performance.

It’s funny; during the Bronxville vs. Lincoln Hall first round match up, Williams was called upon to shoot two technical free throws. As he trudged to the line, I scratched my head and thought, ‘this is the best free throw shooter on the team?’ Keep in mind, Williams is 6’1 and 250+ lbs. In most cases, you don’t expect that kind of a player to be the purest shooter on the team. Well, he proved a whole gym full of people wrong tonight.
So, it is coming down to Lincoln Hall vs. Briarcliff at the County Center on 2/27—4:45 tip-off.

I can’t wait.

Feel free to comment on the game, or any other game that took place last night.
Game Photos

Post Game Audio

In Inside the Athlete, the eye black will be washed away, and the pads will come off as NCN area student athlete’s answer questions completely out of the realm of sports. Enjoy.

MICHAEL SMYTHE

Michael, #23, is a silky smooth shooting guard for the Peekskill Red Devils.

Q: What is your favorite Movie?

A: Rebound

Q: What music are you listening to?

A: Little Weezy ‘Leather So Soft’

Q: What is your favorite subject in school?

A: Math

Q: Can you dance?

A: Yea, I can break it down.

Q: Do you have a nickname?

A: Yes, my nickname is spot–because I have a spot on my head.