BOYS’ BASKETBALL — Beacon opened its season with a 3-1 start, knocking off O’Neill (70-30), Pine Plains (74-44) and Red Hook (61-52) last week before falling to New Paltz (73-66) at home on Tuesday (Dec. 10).
Michai Thompson led the team with 15 points against O’Neill and Pine Plains, while Jahcier Ballard scored 20 against Red Hook and Marci Rodriguez had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ballard added 22 points against New Paltz.
All 11 players scored against O’Neill, including the first varsity points for sophomores Gio Bowley and Jamir Spence and senior Ryan Smith.
“We emphasized defense all preseason, so for us to only give up 30 points on night one is impressive,” said Coach Patrick Schetter. Strong team defense and quick points helped the Bulldogs make a run in the state tournament in March, where they upset Red Hook and New Paltz before losing to Saugerties in only their second sectional title game appearance since 1973. After starting the season 2-7, the team finished 14-8.
Beacon played Fallsburg on Thursday (Dec. 12) and will host Port Jervis at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
Photos by Cadence Heeter
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL — Beacon picked up its first win on Dec. 7, defeating Red Hook at home, 45-27. Reilly Landisi and Daveya Rodriguez each scored 12 points and Drew Kelly and Lila Burke each added eight. The Bulldogs lost their first two games last week, falling in Hyde Park to FDR, 49-40, on Dec. 3 (Landisi scored 17 and Rodriguez 15) and at home to Pine Bush, 39-25, on Dec. 4. Beacon (1-2) travels to Lourdes today (Dec. 13) and to Port Jervis on Dec. 16.
BOYS’ SWIMMING — Beacon fell in its season opener on Tuesday (Dec. 10) to Lourdes, 35-33. Fionn Fehilly won the 100-yard freestyle in 56.21 and was second in the 200-medley in 2:21.67. Beacon swam against Newburgh on Thursday (Dec. 12) and will face Kingston on Tuesday (Dec. 17).
BOWLING — The boys’ team defeated Monroe-Woodbury, 3-2, on Dec. 3, but the girls lost, 5-0. The boys fell to Newburgh, 5-0, on Monday (Dec. 9).
WRESTLING — In its opening match on Tuesday (Dec. 10), Beacon lost to Valley Central, 54-24. The Bulldogs hosted Kingston on Wednesday and travel to Rye for a tournament this weekend.
FALL HONORS — Lila Burke was named sixth team All-State in volleyball; Avery Davis and Brody Timm were members of the All-Section team in boys’ soccer; Kevin Beal, Elijah Epps and Jaden Jones were named to the All-Section team in football; and Gerald Ryan was named coach of the year for Section IX, Class B football.