Tappan Zee is back.
The Dutchmen fell in the semifinals last season, but have retooled on the fly and are once again in Binghamton for the NYSPHSAA final four. A championship berth is waiting if they solve Hudson. We’ll again be updating live from Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
Follow along here:
Tappan Zee runs into unstoppable talent, falls in Class A semifinals
BINGHAMTON – Turns out, Keith Robinson is the one guy in the state capable of solving a defense that has flustered opponents for the last six weeks.
Tappan Zee had no answer.
Robinson delivered a triple-double in the biggest game of his career, leading Hudson to a 57-45 win over the Dutchmen in a NYSPHSAA Class A semifinal Friday at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena.
“We saw on tape how good he was,” Tappan Zee coach Ryan McWilliams said. “He was averaging 32 points a game or something. I thought our kids did the best they could. I have to do a better job putting them in a place to succeed defensively. The kids didn’t quit. He’s a really, really good player and they’re a really, really good team. Nobody wanted me to sub at the end of the game, they wanted to keep fighting and I give them a lot of credit for this season. They’re a high-character group.”
Robinson, who has an offer from Byrant and is also considering prep schools, finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
“He’s quick,” Dutchmen senior guard Jack Piccione said. “He’s tough. You have to kind of guess where he’s going. We did our best with him, but he really had it going.”
A cold start left Tappan Zee chasing the entire game.
It’s the second year in a row the Dutchmen got to the final four and lost. This run was a bit of a surprise. Not only did the program graduate two cornerstone players, former coach George Gaine stepped down.
The standard did not change, though.
“It’s emotional in there,” McWilliams said. “When you care this much, it hurts when it ends. I gave them a (psalm), ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’ This is going to sting tonight. It’s going to sting for a couple of days, but they’re going to look back and see what they did for our community, for each other. I love this group and they love each other and that’s what made us special this year.”
Turning point
Isaiah Leveille went on an I’m-not-going-home tear and brought TZ within six with 90 seconds to play in the third, but the Dutchmen missed their last three shots of the quarter and went into the fourth down 39-29.
Box score
Hudson (23-2): Gannon Logue 7P, 7R; Ryan Conte 20P; Kameryn Clarke 8P, 8R; Keith Robinson 10P, 10R, 10A; Eli Conte 5P; Markel Johnson 2P.
Tappan Zee (23-3): Isaiah Leveille 10P; Christian Sanchez 9P, 9R; Jack Piccione 8P, 4R; Joe Linehan 6P; Timothy Alexandre 12P, 4R.
Takeaways
Tappan Zee was unsettled at the start, going 1 for 6 from the field and falling into a 10-0 hole before Timothy Alexandre converted. “They came out and hit shots we were OK with them shooting,” Piccione said. “We settled in, but once you start off like that in a game on this stage, it’s hard to climb back in.” The Dutchmen shot 33.9% from the field and 20% from the field.
Piccone was initially guarding Robinson, who finished 5 for 15 from the field and 5 for 12 from the line, but the Bluehawks point guard found open teammates on the interior. McWilliams put Sanchez on Robinson for a time so Piccione could help more at the rim, but Robinson kept getting loose and began filling up the scorebook. The defense could not rotate and recover fast enough. Robinson is now the No. 2 scorer in state history with 2,703 points. Tappan Zee had not given up 57 points since a Jan. 30 loss to Suffern.
Live blog
Tappan Zee vs. Hudson
Starting lineups
Tappan Zee: Isaiah Leveille; Christian Sanchez; Jack Piccione; Joe Linehan; Timmy Alexandre.
Hudson: Gannon Logue; Ryan Conte; Kameryn Clarke; Keith Robinson; Eli Conte.
First quarter
We are under way. … Hudson is on the board first. Tappan Zee has forced a pair of turnovers, but is 0 for 2 at the other end. … Time out Dutchmen, who are 0-4 and just had a layup spin out. Ryan Conte has the Bluehawks up 4-0. … Hudson is cooking. Eli and Ryan Conte with a back-to-back 3s and it’s a 10-0 start. … Timmy Alexandre finally gets Dutchmen on the board with 3:17 to go in the quarter. … A pair of early subs for TZ, which is unusual. Dutchmen look nervous with the ball and the help defense is a step slow. … Kameryn Clarke gets to the rim for an easy one. Bluehawks are leading 16-4 with 16 seconds to go in the quarter and Tappan Zee coach Ryan McWilliams calls for a full timeout. There is some visible frustration. End 1: Hudson 16, Tappan Zee 6.
Second quarter
Tappan Zee misses twice underneath and Gannon Logue drains a contested triple in the opening minute of the second at the other end. It’s 19-6. … Piccione is called for a blocking foul. That’s his second with 5:22 in the half. He’s staying on the court. … Dutchmen are 1 for 5 this quarter. A couple of shots have gone down and come back out. … Joe Linehan with an unguarded 3-points gets TZ within 19-11. … Defense holds, but the Dutchmen come down and miss a layup. … Piccione from Linehan and it’s a 21-13 deficit with 1:48 to go in the quarter. … Defense is better this quarter. Only three Bluehawks field goals. … Piccione had been defending on the perimeter. TZ switched late in the half and he was back around the basket where he’s able to help inside more. Halftime: Hudson 25, Tappan Zee 15.
Third quarter
Not a good sign. Hudson opens the half with two easy and open layups. … Robinson doesn’t have to contend with Piccione on the perimeter now and he’s getting to the rim and to the line. Two free throws have the Bluehawks up 32-21 with 5:47 to go in the quarter. … Isaiah Leveille hanging jumper. TZ with within 34-25. … Leveille again. With the spin off the block. It’s a seven-point game. … Robinson back on the line after Piccone gets called for his third foul. Miss. Make. Hudson is up 35-27 with 2:01 to go in the third. … Robinson with a killer baseline jumper. it’s a 37-29 edge. … Dutchmen missed their last three shots after getting within 6. End 3: Hudson 39, Tappan Zee 29.
Fourth quarter
Robinson creates space and jumps to hyperspeed for a layup to open the fourth. … Robinson showing up on the glass, too. His offensive rebound and putback have the Bluehawks in front 43-29. … Leveille expliots a seam and gets one back. … Christian Sanchez with a second-chance bucket stops an 8-2 run by Hudson. TZ is down 47-33 with 4:28 to go. … Ryan Conte from Robinson at one end. Sanchez for 3 at the other. Bluehawks are sitting on a 49-36 lead with 2:53 to go. … On defense, the Dutchmen are in rotation early in the shot clock and scrambling to get to the open man. … Time out Hudson. Joe Linehan gets a deep trey and Sanchez converts off a turnover. Tappan Zee within 52-43 with 1:34 remaining. … Bluehawks break through pressure and get a Ryan Conte jumper to end the rally. TZ misses at the other end. Final minute. … Piccione gets a pair at the line and it’s 55-45 with 44.1 seconds left. Final: Hudson 57, Tappan Zee 45.
What to know about the NYSPHSAA final four
Where: Visions Veterans Memorial Arena
Tickets: General admission is $13.60. Floor level premium seats are $18.85. Tickets are all digital and must be purchased online.
Watch: All games will be streamed for a fee via the NFHS Network.
Schedule
Thursday
CLASS A
Tappan Zee (22-3) vs. Hudson (22-2)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Names to know: Xavier Leveille (Tappan Zee), Sr., F; Jack Piccione (Tappan Zee), Sr., PG; Christian Sanchez (Tappan Zee), So., G; Keith Robinson (Hudson), Sr., PG; Gannon Logan (Hudson) Sr., F.
State rankings: Tappan Zee is No. 2. Hudson is No. 4.
Next: The winner plays Maine-Endwell or Westhill for the championship at 7:45 p.m. Friday.
Friday
CLASS AA
Rye (21-5) vs. Amsterdam (22-2)
When: 11:45 a.m.
Names to know: Henry Shoemaker (Rye) Sr., F; Carson Miller (Rye) Sr., G; Ben Hudson (Rye) Jr., PG; Aundray Fowler (Amsterdam) Sr., G; Caleb Miller (Amsterdam) Sr., F; Rocco Natale (Amsterdam) Jr., F.
State rankings: Amsterdam is No. 3. Rye is No. 4.
Next: The winner plays Penfield or Seton Catholic for the championship at 6 p.m. Saturday.
CLASS AAA
Mamaroneck (22-3) vs. Christian Brothers-Albany (23-0)
When: 3:15 p.m.
Names to know: Brandon Burrell (Mamaroneck) Sr., PG; Will Plunkett (Mamaroneck), Sr., F; Jonah Walsh (Mamaroneck) Sr., G; J.J. Osinski, (CBA) Jr., F; Austin Osinski (CBA), So., G; J.T. Vogel, Jr., G (CBA).
State rankings: Mamaroneck is No. 9. CBA-Albany is No. 4.
Next: The winner plays Fairport or Corning-Painted Post for the championship at 7:45 p.m. Saturday,
Saturday
CLASS C
North Salem (15-8) vs. Berne-Knox-Westerlo (20-6)
When: 3:15 p.m.
Names to know: Max Cotrone (North Salem), Sr., G; Bryce Bryant (North Salem) So., F; Lucas Virzi (North Salem), Jr., F; Shane Kirker (Berne-Knox), Sr., F; George Wright (Berne-Knox), Sr., F.
State rankings: Berne-Knox-Westerlo is No. 2. North Salem is No. 4.
Next: The winner plays Lyons or Cooperstown for the championship on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Mike Dougherty covers high school basketball for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Tappan Zee falls to Hudson in NYSPHSAA Class A semifinals
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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