NCN SPORTS BLOG

The Briarcliff girls aren’t just good at soccer apparently: they took down a favored Ossining squad somewhat easily tonight at Scarsdale High. The Bears led most of the game with the exception of a hiccup in the third quarter. Taylor Pescetti (15 points) has an incredible handle and broke down the Ossining full court press relatively easily - along with Maggie Blair who started her first game at PG with the graduation of Angela Pescetti.

Freshman Casey Heyda was dominant in her varsity debut with 15 points and Brianna Reid (member of the state champion soccer team) looked strong in her debut as well. What’s up with Briarcliff’s freshmen class? Could it be the best female freshmen athletes the area has seen since……the 90’s? Who knows. If you do know, leave a comment.

Ossining’s leading scorer from last season Brittany Garrett struggled to get much going as the 6′1″ Shelby Coon really shut her down. To make matters worse, senior guard Kelsey Vallach left the game with an injury and did not return in the fourth.

Aside from the game - I almost forgot how much I love basketball: nothing beats the thrill of being at a live basketball game. It was a nice change of pace from football games where the games last 2 and a half hours and you need to keep track of 14 different things at once. The atmosphere basketball games have is so much more personal in my opinion than football: you can hear every complaint the fans or the coaches have - nothing is a secret.

 From fast breaks, to the Rick Pitino-like Ossining full court press, to Coach Ricci pacing up and down the bench area after a questionable call…you can’t beat live basketball.

 I’ll be checking out Lakeland on Monday at home against Beacon.

 Until then, have a great weekend.

~ Rob

Honorable Mention Top Moments: Putnam Valley reaching sectional final in field hockey with rookie coach Cortina, Matt Semenza first Lakeland football player to rush for 1000 yards, Croton-Harmon Volleyball reaching Sectional Final, Mahopac volleyball’s turn-around season, Croton Football upsetting Albertus in playoffs, Yorktown Field Hockey escapes the first round - reaches the second round for the first time in school history

10. Somers Cross Country Qualifying for States as a team: This team is what a true Cross Country squad is all about because there really was no weak link and they all finished with times fairly close to each other. Apgar, Porteus, Hashmall led the way and Turro came on strong when he returned from injury. Coach Fulton does a tremendous job getting these kids ready.

 9. Lakeland Field Hockey reaches state final: After losing such a strong senior cast, the five seniors this year in Collins, Robinson, McGovern, O’Mara, and DiSisto took the team on their shoulders and carried them all the way back to Syracuse. This team was something to watch as they were so intense and they clicked so well together. A true class act on and off the field. A lot of credit has to go to coach Sharon Sarsen for bringing them back that far as well.

 8. Kreamer to Drinks to defeat Somers: Two minutes remaining: Somers up 13-7 and Ossining takes over. Before you could blink Drinks was gone down the sideline on a 70 yard bomb, beautifully orchestrated play by Coach Ricci. Then Drinks takes over right where he left off in the semifinal win: taking the opening kickoff back for a TD for Ossining’s only touchdown of the game. Can we name him the Somers killer or what? Does Ossining play Somers in basketball? I hope not for the Tuskers sake.

 7.  Rob Lombardo running people over: Lombardo is an absolute beast, and he’s only a junior. Scary! The NCN player of the year rushed for over 1200 yards for the Tuskers and 19 TD’s. As Jack Parkman of Major League 2 would say: “Get off the tracks when the trains comin’ through!” No reason why Somers can’t get it done next season with all of the skill players back.

 6. Yorktown Football turns it around: After a 3-7 campaign last season, the Huskers of Corn flipped their record to 7-3 and capped the season off with a dramatic comeback victory over a strong Mount Vernon team on a last second FG from Zack Curtin. They also had other big victories over White Plains and JJ-East Fishkill. They bring almost everyone back next year and rumors have been swirling that they may play in Class A. Watch out.

 5. John Jay vs. New Rochelle football: Although I didn’t see these games live, I viewed them on the blog and they sure looked like classics to me. John Jay really hung in there with an amazing team. Bocklet and company really took it took the next level against New Ro’. Paris Walker is something else.

4. Mahopac’s first home game since the passing of Justin Wagner: Again, I wasn’t at this game but I saw the video on the blog and I could imagine how emotional it would have been to be there and experience it with the #45 on the field and the speech made following the convincing victory over Ketcham.

3. Hen Hud volleyball goes back to back: The Sailors did it again, winning two straight state titles. Amazing achievement with Nicole Tamburri leading the show. Coach Swertfager deserves a lot of credit

2. Ossining Football wins sectionals and goes deep into the post-season: Ossining absolutely spanked Fox Lane 41-0 in the sectional final. Remarkably, Fox Lane beat Ossining 35-6 earlier in the season. Shows how much things can change over a months time or so. Ossining came to play and Fox Lane left their game on the bus. The “O” or whatever you want to call them (you guys really need a nickname) then took down undefeated Cornwall before falling to Lansinburgh and Kenny Youngs in the semi’s. The defense was outstanding all year: where is Jajuan Perez headed to play college ball? Anybody know?

1. Briarcliff Girls Soccer, led by freshman and sophomores, win a state title: Hands down the top fall moment. A team that’s leading scorers are freshman and sophomores in Savina Reid, Danielle Christiano, Liana Cornacchio , Jane Wallis, etc. This team showed maturity and experience beyond their age. It’s going to be scary to see what they do in the next 3 years. Back to back shall we?

~ Feel free to rip this apart or add any other moments I may have left out ~

Feel free to rip it to shreds …

1. Ossining (10-1)

The river crew is playing “lights out” football. Ricci – who dons a Jets winter hat on the sidelines – should apply for Eric Mangini’s job. Ossining’s defense is playing on an ethereal level, completely dominating the opposition. With Perez, Royster, Balcomb and Ward leading the defensive line and Federico, Thomas, Lucky and Laccetti holding down the secondary, Ossining should be playing in the Carrier Dome with turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes acting as their fuel. – IC

2. John Jay (7-3)

The Indians played exactly 8:00 of inspired football against Clarkstown North, scoring all of their 21 points. And in those eight minutes, they looked nearly invincible. Unfortunately, the other 40 minutes count for a lot as well. The hangover from the New Rochelle game must have been worse than one accrued during Thanksgiving Eve. Next year will be the definition of rebuilding for John Jay. – IC

3. Somers (7-3)

An uninspired Somers team fell to a very gritty Eastchester squad (that QB is tiny, but quick) in the Tony DeMatteo Bowl. Apparently Lombardo was sick and not 100 percent, but still not the way you want to close out a season. Hopefully, the team can stay healthy next season with Lombardo, Deiana, Haas and company all back. This team will be dangerous. – RD

4. Yorktown (7-3)

With a bevy of juniors leading the Huskers, they arrived a year earlier than expected. Rescigno’s preaching of family and unselfishness took his team as far as humanly possible, culminating in a shocking win over Mount Vernon. The contrast between the Knights and Huskers showed why football is a team sport. Mount Vernon, a team that relies on athletic individual performance, was defeated by the slower, less athletic, but heady and team-oriented Huskers. – IC

5. Mahopac (6-3)

’Pac had a rough end to the season, but one thing remained consistent: Autera’s pumping legs. He finished third in Section 1 with 1328 rushing yards and seventh with 16 touchdowns. You will hear the A-Train’s whistle blowing even louder in his senior campaign next season. – IC

6. Lakeland (4-5)

Remember when Lakeland hung with Ossining all the way into the fourth quarter in their opening game of the season? That looks even more impressive now. If only they could have a mulligan for the playoff game against Eastchester. The Hornets are much better than that score indicated. – IC

7. Putnam Valley (6-3)

Losing top backs O’Gorman and Considine will hurt, but something tells me Coach Heitman will find a way. – RD

8. Hen Hud (4-5)

Losing Gauthier and Nieminski will definitely hurt on both sides of the ball, but with DeSilva, Boyle, and the rest of the Sailors back with another year under their belt they should definitely compete again next season. – RD

9. Briarcliff (4-4)

With top wide receiver Garth Muratori graduating along with quarterback Brian Smith, it may be a rebuilding year next season for the Bears. – RD

10. Croton-Harmon (2-6)

Enough Guitar Hero – it is time to start lifting and getting geared up for next season, fellas. -IC

11. Kennedy Catholic (2-8)

Andrei Schipor was a monster for Kennedy in the win over Lincoln Hall. You really have to feel for this team with all of the injuries they sustained over the season. Showing heart and going out with a W is a great sign for next season. Flanagan and Schuck came up from JV and looked pretty solid. – RD

12. Lincoln Hall (4-5)

It was a strong season for the Hall even though it ended with a loss. Besides the loss to Dobbs, they never lost by more than eight points which is pretty amazing. They competed with Class C runner up Bronxville and Class D champion Haldane. Look for the United to make some noise next season as they should be joining Class C. – RD

13. Peekskill (1-8)

Peekskill is the feel good story of this season. After getting the shaft with an Independent schedule, the Red Devils stuck it out and ended the season with a victory. Now they get to embarrass teams on the basketball court. – RD

14. Panas (1-6)

You have to be glad that none of the NCN teams went winless. All of them play hard and go down with a fight. Panas was no exception to this rule. - RD

Donned in snow white sneakers, Ossining took the turf at Dietz Stadium in Kingston and shutout Cornwall, 13-0, in the Class A Regional finals.

The game was quite ugly — like the weather — but Ossining grunted it out, relying on the churning legs of James Brundage and Christian Federico to control the time of possession and the flow of the game.

With 6:41 left in the fourth quarter, Brundage capped off a 14-play, 68 yard scoring drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. Drinks missed the XP, but Ossining held on for the 13-0 lead.

Their defensive unit — in particular the secondary — was outstanding.

Zach Curtin nailed a 25-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Huskers to a 17-14 win.

What a game.

Here are a few observations …

Brett Cabrielle was a man on a mission. He took over in the latter stages of the game, ripping off big chunks of yardage on the ground.

He is strong, quick and has good field vision. Look for this kid to make some serious noise next year.

I graduated with his brother, Paul, in 2002. He was a great hockey player in the initial stages of the Huskers program.

Anyway, back to the game.

Shota Nishimura was the main man opening up holes for Cabrielle down the stretch. His performance was reminiscent of a pit bull in the trenches.

Johnny Froats — like he has done all season — willed the Huskers to victory. It was his TD that tied the game up at 14-14 with approximately 3:00 left in the fourth quarter. He kept it on the option around the edge and sprinted 24 yards toward the pylon.

John Fennessy forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff return and the Huskers marched down the field for the game winning field goal.

This Huskers team may not have the freakish athletes or the gaudy stats, but they are a fundamentally sound team that work for each other. Rescigno — in his fourth year on the job — has the Yorktown program back to where it used to be. He has instilled that ‘family attitude’ that is certain to show up in the newspaper clippings tomorrow.

This team returns Brunelle, Fennessy, Cabrielle, Goldberg, Laporta, Stern, Scott and Yeboa next season. Things are certainly looking up his Husker land.

Feel free to add anything.

These are only second half highlights.