WHITE PLAINS – Same defense. Same result.
The emotions hit differently, though, after Tappan Zee captured the Section 1 Class A championship Friday with a stifling 51-38 win over Byram Hills at the Westchester County Center.
It’s the second straight title for the Dutchmen, who won in Class AA title last season.
“Nobody really knew who we were,” said Tappan Zee senior Jack Piccione, whose defense earned him tournament MVP honors. “We were projected by some to be a .500 team. It gets sweeter every time. We’re just trying to get more days together … it’s all we’re fighting for at this point.”
The Dutchmen graduated three starters and welcomed a new coach after falling to Binghamton in a NYSPHSAA semifinal a year ago.
Isaiah Leveille and Piccione were the only high-minute holdovers.
“This is my third time,” said Leveille, who was part of the state championship team as a freshman. “It never gets old. For the first time in a long time, we came to a year where a lot of people didn’t think we could win this again.”
It was motivating, to say the least.
Ryan McWilliams did not tinker with the winning formula when he took over for George Gaine, his former coach at Tappan Zee and current mentor. The standards and intensity remain high.
Defense. Defense. Defense.
“I just started thinking about all the hard work these kids have put in,” said McWilliams, who was overcome by emotions at the buzzer. “I’m blessed beyond what I deserve. These kids are such high character kids. I can’t say enough good things about Jack and Isaiah. I love these kids.”
There was plenty of praise, too, for sophomores Christian Sanchez and Timmy Alexandre who grew up fast and were critical in this win.
In the end, though, it was about getting stops. It always is.
“We all lock in on different assignments,” Piccione said. “We prepare. We talk. … But it really comes down to grinding the other team down. We don’t want anything to be easy for them. And when everyone buys in like this group has, like teams in the past did, this is the result.”
Tappan Zee next plays Beacon, which defeated Red Hook 62-37 earlier this evening to capture its first Section 9 title since 2003. The sub-regional game is 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Mahopac.
Turning point
Byram Hills opened the game with an 8-0 run, then committed a string of turnovers and got shut out the last four-plus minutes of the first quarter. The Bobcats were clingy on the defensive end, too, but only had three field goals in the second quarter. And when Tappan Zee got the offense in gear midway through the third quarter, it was a 30-16 lead in a hurry.
Box score
Byram Hills (19-5): Tyler Freiberg 1P; Ben Wolf 13P; Kevin Kendall 17P; Max Miller 2P; Cole Brocchini 2P; Andrew Gendal 3P.
Tappan Zee (21-2): Isaiah Leveille 16P; Christian Sanchez 17P; Jack Piccione 5P; Joe Linehan 3P; Timothy Alexandre 10P.
Takeaways
After knocking down a pair of 3s in the opening minutes, Byram Hills struggled to deal with a defense that focused on Kendall and Wolf. The other three defenders matched up with secondary options and gave plenty of space, allowing the Dutchmen to help when and where needed. It’s hard to describe the Xs and Os in play, but it was an uphill climb to the rim the entire game.
“Christian Sanchez has locked up players this season that I don’t know if I could guard,” Leveille said. “Timmy Alexandre is 5-foot-11, guarding people other bigs can’t stop. And then we all know Jack Piccione is a great defender. I’m just happy to be out there with them doing whatever I can do, maybe taking a charge or two. I just love my guys.”
The growth of Sanchez and Alexandre made this championship possible. In defense of the early non-believers, there wasn’t enough scoring to win a sectional title no matter how good the defense was until they came on the scene.
All-tournament
Ryan Houston (Pearl River); Marcus Jackette (Westlake); Kevin Kendall (Byram Hills); Ben Wolf (Byram Hills); Isaiah Leveille (Tappan Zee). MVP: Jack Piccione (Tappan Zee).
Live blog
No. 1 Tappan Zee vs. No. 2 Byram Hills
Previous meeting: The Dutchmen got a 46-38 win at Byram Hills on Jan. 23.
Mike’s pick: Tappan Zee
Starting lineups
No. 2 Byram Hills: Ben Wolf; Kevin Kendall; Aiden Sokoloff; Max Miller; Cole Brocchini.
No. 1 Tappan Zee: Isaiah Leveille; Christian Sanchez; Jack Piccione; Joe Linehan; Timothy Alexandre.
First quarter
We are under way. … Ben Wolf and Kevin Kendall open with triples for the Bobcats, who are up 6-0 with three minutes gone. … Isaiah Leveille gets TZ on the board and it’s 8-2. … Joe Linehan with a corner 3 for the Dutchmen to continue the run and Christian Sanchez hits from deep with two seconds remaining. … Byram Hills was slowed by three straight turnovers down the stretch. End 1. Byram Hills 8, Tappan Zee 8.
Second quarter
Tappan Zee has already drawn two charges and Sanchez hits another 3 to give the Dutchmen their first lead of the game. … Kendall pulls up and ends the run, getting Byram Hills within 11-10 with 6:03 to go in the half. … The Dutchmen are playing Wolf and Kendall tight defensively, but taking a step back from the less prolific Bobcats and helping where needed. … Byram Hills commits a second shot-clock violation. … Timmy Alexandre drops a 3 for TZ and makes it a 19-12 lead with 47 seconds to go in the quarter. Halftime: Tappan Zee 19, Byram Hills 12.
Third quarter
Sanchez curls into the lane off a screen for a layup and Cole Brocchini answers with a quick jumper at the other end. It’s a 21-14 game. … Bobcats are pushing the pace when they can. … Time out Byram Hills. Isaiah Leveille hits a corner 3. Bobcats are one and done at the other end. Alexandre gets inside for a bucket to make it a 28-16 Dutchmen lead with 3:54 to go in the third. … The wheels are coming off. Byram Hills burns another time out after Sanchez hits the afterburners and gets to the rim for a pair of layups. TZ is up 32-16 with 2:12 to go. … Kendall hits a jumper and stops the run, but the damage is done. Tappan Zee 34, Byram Hills 18.
Fourth quarter
A shove on a tie up results in a technical on the Bobcats. Two shots and the ball. Sanchez hits a free throws. Tappan Zee runs the clock down and Jack Piccione goes in and up for the layup. The Dutchmen lead 37-21. … Max Miller with a jumper followed by a Byram Hills time out. The deficit is 40-23 with 5:50 remaining. … The Bobcats are pressing, but TZ is rolling in for layups. … Ryan McWilliams is coaching like it’s a one-possession game and the Dutchmen players are giving the same effort they started with. … Byram Hills continues to scrap. Wolf hits a jumper with 2:25 to go and it’s 47-32. … Andrew Gendal drops a 3 and the Bobcats have a glimmer of hope, down 12 with 1:41 on the clock. … Leveille slows the rally with a killer spin move in the lane. … Tappan Zee is going to win a sectional title for the second year in a row. The Dutchmen got to a NYSPHSAA Class AA semifinal last year and lost 62-49 against Binghamton then graduated three starters. … Byram Hills subs out the starters with 54 seconds to go. Final: Tappan Zee 51, Byram Hills 38.
Schedule
Friday
Class A
No. 1 Tappan Zee (20-2) vs. No. 2 Byram Hills (19-4), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Class C
No. 1 Tuckahoe (9-10) vs. No. 2 North Salem (13-8), 1:30 p.m.
Class AA
No. 3 Clarkstown North (20-3) vs. No. 5 Rye (18-5), 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Class AAA
No. 1 Mamaroneck (19-3) vs. No. 2 Mount Vernon (18-4), 1:30 p.m.
Class B
No. 1 Woodlands (20-2) vs. No. 2 Dobbs Ferry (18-4), 7:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tappan Zee locks down a third Section 1 title in four seasons
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
