A Quick 60
The Challenge
MSGVarsity.com Sports Talk
High School SportsDesk
Tuckahoe wins second straight Class C title
Sabrina Nicosia
Get the latest Section 1 basketball updates on Twitter: @MSGVarsityKDJ
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Sky Williams and Justin Nolan combined for 52 points on Saturday at the County Center as Tuckahoe took home its second consecutive Section 1 Class C title and fourth since 2006. The top-seeded Tigers defeated a lively Children’s Village squad, 80-58, and accomplished the first step to reaching the lofty goal of a state title.
“You can’t do anything until you get the Gold Ball and it’s a big thing for us to go back to back,” Tuckahoe coach Al Visconti said. “A lot of guys on this team remember a couple of years ago when we were 3-13 and the view’s a lot better from the top of the mountain than from the bottom.”
Tuckahoe raced out to a 24-11 lead in the first quarter as Williams (27 points, five rebounds) and Nolan (25 points, 10 rebounds, four steals) accounted for 22 of Tuckahoe’s points.
In the second quarter, Tuckahoe implemented its lethal press, which aided in causing 16 Village turnovers. Few teams are as quick to capitalize on loose balls and the Tigers held Village to just seven second quarter points and took a 43-18 lead into halftime.
Children’s Village came out of halftime with renewed spirit and actually outscored the Tigers 30-27 over the final two quarters. Anthony Trotter (10 points, seven rebounds) and Kareem Padgett (10 points, two steals) led the scoring and John Green (six points) provided a second-half spark off the bench.
While the Hawks demonstrated to the spectators that they were willing to play to the last whistle, the Tiger lead proved insurmountable.
At 21-0, the perfect season remains a possibility for the Tigers and if their performance thus far is any indication, this team has the chance to make history.
“This is crazy, I know that this is one of our goals but just to get it done is crazy,” said senior guard Tyler Friere (six points, six assists) as he cradled the gold ball in his arms. “I know that we can do more than just this but this is so sweet.”
Tuckahoe moves on to the New York State regional semifinals and will face the towering lineup of Section 9 champion Pine Plains at the County Center on Tuesday. The Tigers will savor this victory for an afternoon but tomorrow it’s back to work.
“This is not a coronation,” Visconti said. “You’ve got to earn it and they did. We’ve been preaching that this is a brotherhood and they really believe that, on and off the court.”
Tri-State lacrosse Top 20: Week 7
HV/WE power rankings: Spring sports
All-Metro boys and girls basketball: 2012-13
All-HV/WE teams: Winter 2012-13
