More hardware will be handed out Saturday with two more Section 1 championship games tipping off at the Westchester County Center. Tuckahoe and North Salem will square off in the Class C title game for the second year in a row. Tuckahoe made it to states a year ago. Rye and Clarkstown North play the evening game with the Class AA gold ball on the line. The Rams have never won a Section 1 title.
This is where you’ll find live updates along with our game coverage after the final buzzer.
Rye again thrives under stress and wins Class AA title
WHITE PLAINS – These guys are simply unflappable.
Or maybe they live for drama.
Rye once again rose above the noise, figured out a way to avoid heartbreak amid the rising tension and captured the Section 1 Class AA title with a 57-50 comeback win over Clarkstown North on Saturday at the Westchester County Center.
It was not a picturesque effort, but the Garnets stayed within a possession or two while they struggled. And that’s when they are most dangerous.
“I looked at the scoreboard at one point and saw it was a three-point game,” senior forward Henry Shoemaker said after earning MVP honors. “I knew there’s no team with a better chance of winning that kind of game than us. We’ve played in games like these. We’re used to competing in the biggest moments.”
Rye’s last sectional championship came in 2020.
All of the little hustle plays down the stretch by the No. 5 seed added up to a breakthrough moment. The Garnets lost in Class A final to Byram Hills two years ago and lost in the Class AA championship against Tappan Zee last year.
Offensive rebounds sealed this victory.
“If you want to win a close game that’s what you have to, you have to do the gritty work,” senior guard Carson Miller said. “Especially when your shots are not falling. We knew a couple of those plays would get us over the hump. With every offensive board we’re taking 30 or 40 seconds off the clock, so it’s difficult for the other side to come back.”
So now the Garnets own a Section 1 title in football and basketball. Shoemaker, Miller and Sebastian Lewis are the common denominator.
Winning carries over.
“I was anticipating this game more than any other I’ve played because winning a gold ball, winning a section championship in basketball it just means more,” Shoemaker said. “If you look in our trophy case at school there’s and only three gold balls. Now there’s a fourth. I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been after any sporting event ever.”
Rye is back on the court against Section 9 champion Goshen at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Yorktown High School.
Turning point
Kyle Kirkland was playing the absolute best game of his life, dropping 3s from all over the court. He connected on a triple with 2:54 to go in the third quarter to cap an 8-0 run and give North a 38-32 lead, but Shoemaker answered from deep, then got inside and made it a one-point game to ignite the crowd. Kirkland hit back-to-back 3s to give the Rams a 48-46 edge with 2:37 to go, but Rye closed on an 11-2 run. A pair of Miller boards on the offensive glass killed any chance of a Clarkstown North rally.
Box score
Rye (19-5): Ben Hudson 10P; Carson Miller 10P; Sebastian Lewis 2P; Henry Shoemaker 27P; Luke Skully 4P.
Clarkstown North (20-4): Kyle Kirkland 26P; Justin Santos 4P; Sean Bankey 2P; Jack Kavanagh 6P; Rotimi Esiso 12P.
Takeaways
Rye coach Tommy Proudian is certain this playoff run has roots in the football season. He’s not wrong. Miller and Shoemaker were only getting started in the fall.
“Finally getting over the hump and winning a sectional championship and then a state championship really calmed them down,” Proudian said. “It’s helped us here in crucial situations when things aren’t going well. Everyone looks up to them, so if Carson and Henry are cool, we’re good. They have been a part of some hard losses in three sports. They finally solved Somers last season in football and there’s been a carryover. I see a different look on their faces this season.”
The game Kirkland played will be talked about for a long time. Hits six 3-pointers, some under pressure, was a show. And the season the Rams had should not be forgotten. A year ago, North was playing for the big moments, for the upsets. This year they were playing for a championship. That’s serious forward progress.
Don’t overlook the four charges Luke Scully took for Rye or the multiple possessions Sebastian Lewis kept alive for the Garnets.
All-tournament
Colin Worden (Yorktown); Jake Pampolina (Suffern); Kyle Kirkland (Clarkstown North); Rotimi Esiso (Clarkstown North); Carson Palmer (Rye). MVP: Henry Shoemaker (Rye).
Live blog
No. 3 Clarkstown North vs. No. 5 Rye
Previous meeting: Rye came out flying and posted a 69-48 win at Clarkstown North on Feb. 11.
Mike’s pick: Rye.
Starting lineups
Rye: Ben Hudson; Carson Miller; Sebastian Lewis; Henry Shoemaker; Luke Skully.
Clarkstown North: Kyle Kirkland; Justin Santos; Sean Bankey; Jack Kavanagh; Rotimi Esiso.
First quarter
We are under way. … Jack Kavanagh has North on the board first, hitting from deep. … Kyle Kirkland all net from 3 gives the Rams a 6-2 lead with three minutes gone. … Henry Shoemaker scores on a putback then Kirkland hits another triple. It’s a 9-4 advantage. … Rye is scrapping on the boards. Sebastian Lewis, especially. Shoemaker gets to the line and brings the Garnets within a point. … Kirkland is locked in from behind the arc. He just knocked down a third 3-pointer and it’s a 14-10 lead for North. … Rotimi Esiso hits Justin Santos on the run to extend the Rams advantage. End 1: Clarkstown North 16, Rye 10.
Second quarter
Rye is not shooting well, missing from long range, missing from down low. That’s not a good sign. Defense and rebounding are keeping them in this. … Ryan Hess scores twice in transition and Henry Shoemaker pulls up from 19 feet and knots the score, 16-16, with five minutes to go in the half. … And now Clarkstown North has caught a chill. … Carson Miller corrects his miss and has the Garnets on top for the first time, 18-16. … Santos converts off spin to stop the run. … Kirkland end to end with a rebound, leaves a vapor trail and gets the layup. North is up 22-18 with 2:50 to go in the half. … Rye is fueling Rams breakaways with missed 3s. Esiso finishes a run out and makes it 24-20. Halftime: Clarkstown North 26, Rye 22.
Third quarter
Lewis starts the scoring after both sides take a minute to settle back in. Rye is within a bucket. … Miller gets loose on the baseline then feeds Shoemaker to give the Garnets a 28-26 lead. … Kirkland with the answer from long distance. … Five lead changes so far. Shoemaker gets a putback. Esiso hits from 3 and the Rams are up 33-32 with 3:43 to go in the third. … Kirkland is approaching legend status. He turned a pair of Rye turnovers into a fast break layup and his fifth 3 of the contest. Time out Garnets, down 38-32 with 2:51 to go in the quarter. … Shoemaker from behind the arc. It’s a 38-35 deficit. Shoemaker again down low and Rye is within a point. … North turnovers let the Garnets close the gap. End 3: Clarkstown North 40, Rye 37.
Fourth quarter
Clarkstown North opens the quarter 0 for 2 with a turnover. Shoemaker has the Garnets within a point. … Hudson with a hanging jumper in the lane gives Rye a 41-40 lead. Santos gets in the lane with 5:27 to go and gets it right back. … Shoemaker from deep. At the other end, charging call goes against Esiso. It’s his fourth. Garnets lead 44-42. … Shoemaker on the glass, cleans up his miss, and it’s a four-point edge with 4:27 left. … Kirkland with another 3 while falling down in the corner. It’s a 46-45 deficit. … Guess who? Kirkland from NBA range. North jumps back in front 48-46. He’s got 27 points with 2:33 to play. … Lewis to Shoemaker for three the old-fashioned way. Rye is up 49-48. And the Garnets are on the run with a miss. Hudson gets the layup with 2:05 remaining. … Miller with an offensive rebound and score. Time out North, down 53-48 with 53.8 seconds to go. … Sean Bankey with a quick bucket. It’s a 53-50 game. … Rye misses, but Miller is there again for the biggest offensive rebound of the season with 12 seconds left. North had a foul to give. Garnets will be inbounding. … Shoemaker is fouled on the catch. He is shooting. … Good. Good. Final; Rye 57, Clarkstown North 50.
North Salem dethrones Tuckahoe with furious second half rally
WHITE PLAINS – After being overlooked all season, even the North Salem players momentarily doubted themselves.
At the worst possible time.
Following an uninspired first half in the Section 1 Class C championship game, Chris Brandt served up a locker room jolt that raised the level of intensity and belief. North Salem responded with its best eight minutes of the season, quickly took over the game and posted a 55-44 win over defending champion Tuckahoe.
It was the program’s first title since 2017.
“They were reminded how we have been doubted from the beginning of the season,” said Brandt, a first-year coach. “It was always about Tuckahoe going back to states and we used that as motivation. The problem with us is we forget that a lot. It took us two quarters to remember our motivation and then a switch was flipped. Everything we’ve been striving for this season clicked in.”
North Salem lost here in the finals a year ago.
Half the North Salem roster is made up of players who won back-to-back state titles and that big game experience came into play. The moment was not overwhelming.
“In soccer we really weren’t the underdogs,” said Max Cotrone, a three-sport standout at the school. “In basketball we’ve been underdogs all four years I’ve been here so this win feels even better than it did in soccer. Winning this one was harder so it’s kind of a surreal feeling.”
Tuckahoe was up 24-17 when it went in at halftime but was hit with a wave of intensity when play resumed.
Momentum was gone in the first minute of the second half.
“We had a talk about bringing more intensity,” North Salem sophomore and tournament MVP Bryce Bryant said of a 27-point outburst in the third quarter. “When we came out in the third quarter it really showed on the defensive end. We picked up full court and made our shots. … It feels amazing to win here in my first year and to get a cool dunk at the end.”
Next up for North Salem is Long Island champion Pierson. The regional final will be played at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Longwood High School and the winner advances to the NYSPHSAA final four.
Turning point
Cotrone knotted the score 67 seconds after the intermission and Connor Meehan got North Salem in front the next time down. Tuckahoe was on the wrong side of a 15-4 run that Ryan Gentry ended with a 3 that cut the deficit to one with 3:51 to go in the quarter. North Salem didn’t give up a field goal the rest of the way and had a 44-35 lead when the buzzer sounded.
Box score
North Salem (14-8): Jameson Juan 7P; Max Cotrone 13P; Lucas Virzi 7P; Bryce Bryant 20P; Andrew DeLarco 6P; Connor Meehan 2P.
Tuckahoe (9-11): Rocco Briante 15P; Marco Formato 2P; Ryan Gentry 13P; Ryan Sexton 2P; Luca Del Conte 6P; Jack Bamford 6P.
Takeaways
North Salem was never rattled, even after the bumpy start, and that has a lot to do with the experience and counsel of the soccer players on this roster.
“The experience those kids have is a tremendous help,” Brandt said. “A lot of the soccer guys talked with each other at halftime and said, ‘We know what it takes to overcome adversity,’ and they put that knowledge to use that entire second half.”
The addition of Bryant, a sophomore, was a huge difference-maker, as well. He’s active on the defensive end and provides a high-percentage scoring option.
Despite returning most of the players who won sectionals and made the NYSPHSAA final four last season, Tuckahoe didn’t have any swagger. And foul trouble that put. Luca Del Conte and Jack Bamford on the bench for key stretches was an issue, too.
It should again be noted, Tuckahoe had a three-week break following its last regular-season game and North Salem played just once in the last three weeks. There are just four teams in Class C and only three entered the playoffs, which is a product of the state adding Class AAA in 2024. Lengthy waits have become a problem in different classifications across the state.
All-tournament
Deon Martin (Children’s Village); Rocco Briante (Tuckahoe); Ryan Gentry (Tuckahoe); Max Cotrone (North Salem); MVP: Bryce Bryant (North Salem).
Live blog
No. 1 Tuckahoe vs. No. 2 North Salem
Previous meeting: Tuckahoe pulled away for a 69-58 win over visiting North Salem on Feb. 10.
Mike’s pick: Tuckahoe
Starting lineups
North Salem: Jameson Juan; Max Cotrone; Lucas Virzi; Bryce Bryant; Andrew DeLarco.
Tuckahoe: Rocco Briante: Marco Formato; Ryan Gentry; Luca Del Conte; Jack Bamford.
First quarter
Luca Del Conte gets Tuckahoe on the board first. Nifty high-low pass from Jack Bamford. … It’s already very physical around the rim. … Bryce Bryant runs the break, gets to the line and makes one. It’s a 3-3 game with 4:57 to go in the quarter. … Tuckahoe has a run started. Rocco Briante from 3 and Bamford turnaround make it an 8-3 lead. … Turnovers are the only issue right now for Tuckahoe, which is up 10-4 with 1:27 to go in the first. Defense is hyped and Bamford and Del Conte are killing it on the glass. … It’s a 12-1 run for Tuckahoe. Ryan Gentry triple and Marco Formato free throws cap the run. End 1: Tuckahoe 15, North Salem 4.
Second quarter
Tuckahoe is drawing whistles. Del Conte gets called for his second foul and heads for the bench 35 seconds into the quarter. … And now Bamford gets his second foul going for an offensive board. … Right on cue, Briante delivers a big play with a steal and layup to give Tuckahoe a 17-6 lead with 5:16 to go in the half. … And then he puts his nose in harm’s way and picks up a second foul. Andrew DeLarco makes both free throws to narrow the deficit. … Lucas Virzi on a run out gets North Salem within 17-10 with 4:20 to go in the second. … Both sides are now rust free and the points are coming. … Bryant inside cuts the Tuckahoe lead to 22-15 with 2:06 left. Halftime: Tuckahoe 24, North Salem 17.
Third quarter
Max Cotrone with a free hrow and then a putback knots the score 26-26. … Connor Meehan on the break gets the layup. North Salem is up 28-26 with 6:20 to go in the quarter. Time out Tuckahoe. … It’s a 15-4 run by North Salem to start the second half. Virzi pulls up and makes it a 32-28 advantage. … Del Conte picks up his fourth foul with 4:25 to go in the third. He’s sitting. … Tuckahoe commits its fifth foul of the quarter with 2:40 to go. Bryant makes one. Cotrone rebounds the miss and scores. North Salem leads 37-32. … DeLarco posts up and scores. It’s a 42-34 lead for North Salem. End 3: North Salem 44, Tuckahoe 35.
Fourth quarter
Loose ball scrum. North Salem called for an intentional foul. Briante hits both free throws and North Salem ties up the inbounds pass. It’s a 45-37 lead for North Salem. … Byrant converts to end a three-shot possession and draws the fifth foul on Del Conte. Free throw is strong by DeLarco gets the offensive board. North Salem is simply quicker to the ball right now. … If you’re wondering, the last North Salem Section 1 title came in 2017 in Class B against Hamilton. … Bamford in the lane gets Tuckahoe within 8. … North Salem is running clock and has committed back-to-back turnovers, but good defense and board work has kept Tuckahoe from closing the gap. … Bryant applies the exclamation point with the lefty dunk in the final minute. North Salem is up 13. Final: North Salem 55, Tuckahoe 44.
Schedule
Saturday
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.
Results
Class A
Tappan Zee 51, Byram Hills 38
Class C
No. 2 North Salem 55, No. 1 Tuckahoe 44
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye upends North in Class AA; North Salem dethrones Tuckahoe in C
Reporting by Mike Dougherty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
