North Salem is the last hope.
It’s not been a good week for Section 1 teams at the NYSPHSAA final four. Mamaroneck, Rye and Tappan Zee were all sent home. The Tigers are taking on Berne-Knox-Westerlo in the Class C semifinal. We’ll be posting live updates throughout.
North Salem unable to match up with defending state champs
BINGHAMTON – A healthy underdog mentality served North Salem well this season, but the right approach wasn’t enough to keep this postseason run intact.
The Tigers simply did not have the horses needed to stand up to Berne-Knox-Westerlo on Saturday and fell to the defending state champions 100-66 in a NYSPHSAA Class C semifinal at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
It was impossible for a smallish lineup to really be ready for the Bulldogs.
“We did a lot of game planning, but there’s no way to replicate their size, strength and athleticism,” North Salem coach Chris Brandt said. “And they probably roll eight or nine deep. We practiced five-on-seven, five-on-eight, but we don’t have players large enough to represent the kids on that team.
“Ultimately, after seeing them live, there is very little we could’ve done.”
Exactly.
Wishing food poisoning on a team is not a viable strategy. B-K-W has a 6-foot-7 Air Force Academy recruit in Shane Kirker. He’s got a 6-5 sidekick in George Wright. The backcourt is big and physical, too.
“To be honest, I think we did our best,” Tigers senior guard Max Cotrone said. “I’m not leaving with any regrets. I don’t think anyone else is leaving with any regrets. They’re just a good team, well-rounded. Everyone on that team is good.”
It did take North Salem a minute to settle in, but the offense did not have many issues finishing.
Getting stops, though, was a tall order.
“It’s hard to cover a team when they are so much taller,” Tigers sophomore Bryce Bryant said. “It’s hard to contest shots. And they had two other kids who could jump so we knew we probably weren’t going to block any shots.”
Turning point
Along with the size advantage, the Bulldogs have plenty of state championship experience. It showed early. Cotrone evened the score 4-4 with 1:21 gone, but Kirker sparked and sustained a 16-1 run that removed most of the drama from the contest.
“They’re the defending state champs for a reason, but this team has a bright future,” Cotrone said.
Box score
Berne-Knox-Westerlo (21-6): Jayden Buie 22P, 3R; Dayne Coates 22P, 3R, 3A; Shane Kirker 20P, 7R; Matthew Dwyer 6R, 3A; Blake Terrell 11P, 3A; George Wright 21P, 9R, 4A; Chris Dwyer 1P, 5R.
North Salem (15-9): Jameson Juan 9P; Max Cotrone 9P, 3R, 3A; Lucas Virzi 17P; Bryce Bryant 15P, 9R, 5A; Andrew DeLarco 5P, 10R; Patrick Dooley 3P; Sean Randall 1P; Connor Meehan 8P.
Takeaways
North Salem did a good job during the playoffs handling all of the starts and stops. No other team spent as much time in practice, waiting for the next game.
“We were the underdogs and that was our motto since Tuckahoe was picked to win sectionals,” Brandt said. “We decided to embrace it and went in with that mindset every single game, trying to prove those who doubted us wrong. And you know, that flame kind of flickered out today.”
Live blog
North Salem (15-8) vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo (20-6)
Starting lineups
North Salem: Jameson Juan; Max Cotrone, Lucas Virzi, Bryce Bryant, Andrew DeLarco.
Berne-Knox-Westerlo: Jayden Buie, Shane Kirker, Dayne Coates, Matthew Dwyer, George Wright.
First quarter
We are under way. … Jameson Juan scores in transition and North Salem is on the board. … BKW responds with two buckets in six seconds. … Shane Kirker is a 6-foot-7 forward who is committed to Air Force Academy. He just converted the and-one. The Bulldogs are up 7-4 with 6:24 to go in the first. … Max Cotrone pushes the pace and gets to the line. He’s 1 for 2. Tigers are within 9-5. … North Salem is holding its own on the boards despite the size difference. … Kirker drains from long distance and George Wright converts a turnover. It’s a 14-5 BKW lead with 4:19 to go in the first quarter. Time out Tigers. … Turnovers are derailing North Salem. The Bulldogs are on a 16-1 run. Kirker gets a pair of free throws after Bryce Bryant picks up his second foul. … Andrew DeLarco with a putback stops the bleeding with 1:46 to go. Tigers are down 20-7. … Kirker comes across the baseline and dunks. BKW has a 25-9 cushion. End 1: Berne-Knox-Westerlo 28, North Salem 9.
Second quarter
The bad news is North Salem is down 37-11. The good news is Kirker is on the bench with foul trouble. Bryant got him in the air with a head-and-shoulders fake then leaned in and got the call. He also made both free throws. … Cotrone with a lefty finish at the rim off a give-and-go makes it 37-13. … Wright, a 6-5 forward, picks up his third foul and sits down. … Tigers are on a 7-1 run. Bryant cuts the deficit to 42-20 with 3:32 to go in the half. … Questionable whistle puts Cotrone on the bench now with foul trouble. … Lucas Virzi splashes a 3 for the Tigers and it’s 46-25. Time out BKW. … Connor Meehan with consecutive buckets moves North Salem within 48-29, but Jayden Buie hits a 3 at the buzzer. Halftime: Berne-Knox-Westerlo 51, North Salem 29.
Third quarter
North Salem didn’t spend a lot of time in the locker room. Not much to say. … Virzi has rediscovered his touch from behind the arc. He’s dropped a pair of 3s to bring the Tigers within 55-35. … Juan and Andrew DeLarco connect from deep. North Salem is scoring enough, but can’t get needed stops to go on a run. … Cotrone just picked up his fourth and heads for the bench. … Bryant gets a 3, too, and it’s a 65-43 game. … Kirker and Wright take a seat. … Bryant in traffic and it’s 73-51. End 3: Berne-Knox-Westerlo 75, North Salem 55.
Fourth quarter
BKW is apparently trying to get the defensive intensity dialed up for the final. Bulldogs have starting five on the court to open the quarter. … Virzi drops a corner 3. It’s 77-58 with seven minutes to play. … Kirker dunks again. … Tigers are playing some of their subs. … Kirker on the break dunks emphatically and hangs on the rim a second too long. He’s called for a tech and has fouled out. Not a good look for the big man. … Patrick Dooley gets his name in the scorebook with a 3 for the Tigers. It’s an 81-65 game. … Coates with a corner 3 for the Bulldogs and it’s 93-66 with 2:18 to go. … North Salem clears the bench with 1:33 to play. Nice hand for Cotrone and Juan. … The Bulldogs also pull their rotation guys. Final: Berne-Knox-Westerlo 100, North Salem 66.
Results
Thursday
CLASS A
Hudson 57, Tappan Zee 45
Game story: Tappan Zee falls to Hudson
Friday
CLASS AA
Amsterdam 63, Rye 54
Game story: Rye sent home by a hot hand
CLASS AAA
Christian Brothers-Albany 68, Mamaroneck 48
Game story: Mamaroneck done in by a fourth-quarter run
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: North Salem falls to defending champ in NYSPHSAA boys basketball semis
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
