Log in Subscribe

SCCC Summer Basketball League Crowns Boys, Girls Champions

Published August 10, 2004

Rob Potter
Posted 8/10/21

LOCH SHELDRAKE - The Sullivan County Community College Summer High School Basketball League crowned its champions last Thursday night at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse on the SCCC campus.

The …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

SCCC Summer Basketball League Crowns Boys, Girls Champions

Published August 10, 2004

Posted

LOCH SHELDRAKE - The Sullivan County Community College Summer High School Basketball League crowned its champions last Thursday night at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse on the SCCC campus.

The girls’ and boys’ title games were very different, however.

In the girls contest, Downsville overcame a first half deficit and held off a determined Sullivan West team in the final moments to post a 34-30 victory.

In the boys’ title tilt, the Sullivan Bearcats stormed out to a 10-0 lead in the first eight minutes of action. As a result, the Bearcats - a team made up of players from the Monticello, Tri-Valley and John S. Burke Catholic school districts - went on to record a 68-40 win.

SW was able to take a five-point lead in the first half to the girls’ title contest. But Downsville gradually closed the gap by halftime.

However, SW again opened a small lead in the second half. With 9:15 remaining in the contest, April Ackermann hit a baseline jumper to put SW up 22-18.

But Downsville patiently erased that lead. With exactly six minutes left, Courtney Hoyt made a free throw to give Downsville a 25-24 lead.

Hoyt extended her team’s advantage with a diving layup with 1:39 showing on the game clock. That hoop gave Downsville a 31-28 lead.

Alexa Henderson sealed the win for Downsville by swishing three of four foul shots in the game’s final 32 seconds.

Downsville Coach Kyle Emerich had a simple reply when asked about the key to his team’s victory.

“We started to execute our plays better in the second half,” he said. “We got a better feel for the game. In the first half, we just weren’t playing well.”

Last-minute free throws were not necessary in the boys’ final, however.

After they raced out to the aforementioned 10-0 lead, the Sullivan Bearcats used their quickness to create steals and easy baskets throughout the first half. The Bearcats also scored frequently.

Two baskets in the lane by Jermaine Davis in a 45-second span late in the half gave the Bearcats a 22-10 lead.

After halftime, the Bearcats picked up where they left off to post their 28-point win.

“Our goal is outrebound the opposition and play better defense than they do,” Bearcats’ Coach Chris Russo said. “We have a lot of talent offensively, so we believe that we have a good chance to win when we rebound and play good defense.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here