Varsity Roundup: Beacon

BOYS’ BASKETBALL — After 12 days off, Beacon extended its winning streak to eight games, knocking off Fallsburg (76-34); Saugerties (64-61) at the Officials vs. Cancer Tournament at Dutchess Community College that was a rematch of Beacon’s loss in last year’s Section IX, Class A title game; and Port Jervis (71-53). Jahcier Ballard had 22 points against Fallsburg and 17 against Port Jervis. In a balanced attack against Saugerties, Ryan Landisi scored 15, Marci Rodriguez finished with 14 and Ballard added 11, including a 3-pointer with 1:24 left to break a 59-all tie. Beacon (14-4, 5-0 league) visits Haldane today (Feb. 7) at 5:30 p.m. for the annual Battle of the Tunnel and closes the regular season hosting Liberty (6-10) at 6:30 p.m. on Monday.

Photos by Cadence Heeter

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL — Beacon had three wins this week — including a stunning upset of a top-ranked Pine Bush team — to improve to 10-5. On Jan. 31, the Bulldogs won at Cornwall, 53-45, behind 20 points from Reilly Landisi and 14 from Rayana Taylor. Before its 66-25 victory on Monday (Feb. 3) over Port Jervis, the Bulldogs honored their five seniors: Landisi, Taylor, Rory LaDue, Lila Burke and Daveya Rodruguez. Burke scored a career-high 20 points and Landisi had 17. 

On Wednesday, Beacon traveled to Pine Bush and toppled the previously undefeated Bushmen, 61-57, behind Landisi’s 22 points. Pine Bush, at 14-0, is the fifth-best team in the state’s largest class, AAA, according to the New York State Sportswriters Association (Beacon is unranked in Class A). 

Fallsburg was scheduled to visit Beacon on Thursday (Feb. 6) but forfeited. The Bulldogs travel to Marlboro (8-5) on Saturday before visiting league rival Liberty (3-10) on Monday and hosting Liberty at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. They wrap up the regular season Feb. 20 hosting Wallkill (7-7).

On Jan. 31, the New York State Sportswriters Association named Landisi to the 12th team of the Class A All-State squad for her play during the 2023-24 season. 

WRESTLING — Beacon defeated Goshen, 42-33, on the road, with Mark Aakjar (108 pounds), Jude Betancourt (160), Avery Davis (170), Brody Timm (190) and Elijah Rupp (285) each winning by pin. The Bulldogs hosted Monticello on Wednesday (Feb. 5) and will compete in the sectional tournament starting Feb. 15. 

WINTER TRACK — Beacon competed on Feb. 2 in the Section IX Invitational at The Armory in New York City. For the boys, Zachary Schetter finished third in triple jump (39-2), Jayden Mihalchik was fourth in the pole vault (10-6) and seventh in the shot put (35-1), Noah Spiak placed seventh in the 300 meters (36.88) and Caellum Tripaldi was ninth in the 600 meters (1:27.39). For the girls, Lily Mack was second in the high jump (4-10), Katherine Ruffy placed ninth in the shot put (27-10.5) and Mikaela Sanchez was 11th in the 600 meters (1:45.77). Beacon travels to West Point on Saturday (Feb. 8) for the Section IX, Class A championships.

BOWLING — The boys’ and girls’ squads each lost 5-0 to Middletown and 5-0 to Franklin Roosevelt, falling to 1-10 on the season. The Bulldog teams played Saugerties and Highland this past week and travel to Kingston on Tuesday (Feb. 11).