NCN SPORTS BLOG

First Quarter

• Peekskill leads 14-8 at the end of the first quarter. Mookie has been in control, soaring through the air for a spectacular one-handed dunk and also hitting a deep three-pointer.

Second Quarter

• Peekskill up by 10 at the half, 34-24. Seems Kings Park can’t contain “The Mook.” He has a game-high 15 points. Peekskill’s high intensity full court pressure resulted in 10 steals.

Thanks to the Post Star for doing updates.

Third Quarter

• Peekskill is proving to be too much for Kings Park, pulling away by 25 points to end the third. Almost time to empty the bench …
• Peekskill leads 60-35. Kings Park, the clock has struck midnight.

It’s Over

• Mookie pours in 26 as the Red Devils defeat the Kingsmen 85-51. The Red Devils will take on Kings Park tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the class A state championship.

Have a happy and safe St. Paddy’s Day!

Glens Falls defeated Mckinley 72-54 in the class A state semi-finals.

Glens Falls outscored Mckinley 28-8 in the decisive fourth quarter.

Peekskill vs. Kings Park is up next. The winner plays Glens Falls for the state championship.

Read some more about the game quarter-by-quarter …. HERE 

I found some interesting articles that were published today.

Click the headlines …

State Tournament Players To Watch

Peekskill vs. Glens Falls? Bring out the defibrillator

411 on Mookie

That should keep you busy for a bit.

Didn’t see Mookie Jones skying through the air during the Red Devils’ win over EFA?

Don’t fret, because Jim MacLean took BRILLIANT pictures of Mookie in action.

I chopped them up a bit and created what you see below …

Click the thumbnails to view the full picture.

One Handed

One Handed II

Reverse Thunder

By Tom Forde

What a season this has been for the Lakeland girl’s basketball team. Since early December when I did the girl’s basketball preview for the 2006-2007 season they were my top team and the top story I’ve had the pleasure of reporting on more consistently than perhaps any other journalist. And it has now come to the point where I believe I have run out of adjectives or superlatives to describe just how amazing these Hornets have been. No team could get within 14 points of them through the regular season schedule and after a tough battle against Pearl River in the Class A Sectional finals they accomplished a major goal they had been focused on since the end of last season. They exorcised the demons of last years semifinal loss and finally attained the gold ball trophy that they so desired. But now as coach Steve Fallo says, “It’s time to get greedy.” And Lakeland let it be known this past week that they are not done with their season, not by a long shot.

The Regional competition didn’t even know what hit them as Lakeland began the tournament at SUNY New Paltz with a thumping of Section 9 champion Cornwall by a 53-28 margin. This game was over long before it really ever got started as Lakeland jumped out to an early 22-0 advantage and after that it was just a matter of the clock mercifully running out on another overwhelmed Lakeland opponent. Once again it was the Hornets’ defense that game their opponent fits and translated into fast break points over and over again. Rose Fazio had a very solid game with 14 points and Rebecca DiSisto stepped up big time with 10 points from the backcourt. From their all that stood between the Hornets and the state final four was Section 4 champion Maine-Endwell. To say it politely Section 4 didn’t prove to be any harder a road block than their previous opponent from Section 9 as the Hornets punched their ticket for the state tournament with a 65-36 thrashing of Maine-Endwell. Interestingly enough Lakeland has seemingly gotten stronger and better on both defense and offense after the sectional championship which poses a big challenge for their state competitors.

So following their first Regional Championship in school history the Hornets returned to school on Monday to review game tape of their state semifinal opponent Harborsfield from Section 11. So with only two games, a mere eight quarters, away from the perfect season and the first state title for Lakeland girl’s basketball and coach Steve Fallo, here is what I feel are the keys to this next game.

How to beat Harborsfield: The Hornets are one of those unique teams that is focused on each and every game they enter and execute their coaches game plan to perfection on a game to game basis. This time around the strategy should be simple. Haborsfield does not post one single player on their entire roster that is over 5-10 while Lakeland has five girls that stand 5-10 or taller. The Section 11 champion will undoubtedly need to rely on outside shooting to stay in this game but the rebounding edge should be a distinct advantage for the Hornets as long as they box out and get aggressive. On offense for Lakeland…well pick your poison Harborsfield. If you double down on Amy Voelkel, Rose Fazio, or Tori Jarosz in the paint then Sarah Benischek, Rebecca DiSisto or Kelly Schneider will bury you from the perimeter and vice versa. I think that Haborsfield is going to take a look at the Pearl River game and think that they can press the Hornets into costly backcourt mistakes but trust me, Steve Fallo is ready for that. If the Fab Five play aggressive and attack the paint then they should take this one easily. Also it cannot be stressed enough how much their height will play a factor in this game. Second chance points on offensive rebounds are huge. Look for Lakeland take one big step on Friday and look for that giant state championship leap on Saturday night. Good luck girls.

Non Basketball Info

• Kings Park is located in Suffolk County Long Island.
• To learn more about the history of the community … CLICK HERE
• The most famous alumnus of the school is Houston Astros baseball player Craig Biggio. Biggio has been hit by 286 pitches in his career—which is a MLB record.

Basketball Info

• Junior guard Mike McSloy is the purest shooter on team and thrives in the clutch. He went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe in the waning moments of the Kingsmen’s win over Jericho. McSloy is also the primary ball handler.
• 6′8 senior center Jon Koop is an imposing interior presence. He has the ability to block shots, rebound and score around the basket.

MORE TO COME …

The top 10 highlights video is COMPLETE.

The clips are from playoff games at the County Center and SUNY New Paltz.

Did you make the top 10?

CLICK HERE … to find out

Did I leave anything out?

Leave a comment.

Kings Park wasn’t just bad last year—they were unsightly, finishing with a 2-17 record. But this year has been a totally different story, as head coach Dave Shoulier transformed the Kingsmen into winners.

While perusing the interweb, I came across an interesting article from Newsday written by Jason Molinet. Apparently Coach Shoulier pumped the soundtrack to Hoosiers throughout the teams workouts in preparation for their last game against highly touted Jericho. Say what you want—it worked. However, with Mookie Jones and the Red Devils on the horizon, it might take a little more than an inspiring score from a movie to elevate the play of his squad. Maybe a little of this?

Glens Falls is where the Red Devils have made their mark. They are a VIP guest, while the Kingsmen are merely a fringe member of an entourage. When it comes down to it—this is Peekskill’s game to lose.

More to come later today … check back for updates.

Jim MacLean, head sports editor at NCN, will be in attendance at this game …

Be sure to check back tom morrow for his write up and brilliant pictures.

One last thing, PEEKSKILL IS GOING TO SMOKE EFA.

No contest …

My prediction—-67-52 Peekskill

Mookie goes for 25+

Brickhouse comes up HUGE and scores in double-digits.

Keep checking back for updates.

P.S. I’d like to hear some commentary from some fans that are going to this game.

UPDATES VIA THE VARSITY INSIDER BLOG

• 21-12 ‘Skill after one quarter (Mookie is pouring it on with 7 early points)

• Peekskill leads 42-25 at the half. Mookie has 19 points and Watson has 13. Sorry I wasn’t there to get that SICK reverse dunk on film, Mookie. Save some for Glens Falls.

• Peekskill is thrashing EFA, 62-42, through 3 quarters. Mookie has 25 points. Kings Park of Section 11 (if they hold on to win) will be the Red Devils’ semi-final match-up in Glens Falls.
• The Red Devils finished up the job in the fourth quarter, defeating EFA by 30 points, 86-56. Mookie finished with 25 points, Elliot Watson had 17 and Brickhouse added 10 off the bench. Not a bad prediction, eh?

Next up Peekskill will play Kings Park from Section 11. The game will be on March 17th @ 10:45 A.M. in the gorgeous city of Glens Falls. So, who is going dressed as a leprechaun?

If anyone out there knows somebody that is in a band and is willing to have their songs be layered under our sports footage—email me at icass@northcountynews.com

It can be rock, hip-hop, punk … pretty much anything as long as it’s clean.

The song should be in mp3 format.

I’m looking forward to submissions.