Girls advance to play Wednesday
It was a bitter end to an otherwise stellar season for top-seeded Beacon boys’ basketball team: The 16-4 Bulldogs were upset at home on Monday (March 3) in the first round of the Section IX, Class A tournament by No. 8 Marlboro, 53-50.
The Dukes (11-9) reached the game after defeating No. 9 Spackenkill (10-11) on Saturday; they advance to face No. 4 Saugerties on Wednesday. Marlboro dominated the Bulldogs on the glass, getting plenty of rebounds and second-chance scoring opportunities in what turned out to be a tense tournament matchup.
Photos by Cadence Heeter
The teams were tied at 11 at the end of the first quarter; Beacon scored several key baskets in the final three minutes of the half to take a 29-22 lead, including a buzzer-beater.
Several turnovers in the final few minutes of the third quarter gave the Dukes extra possessions, and they capitalized, with Chris DeNatale hitting 3-pointers and two free throws after a Beacon player was assessed a technical foul.
Behind 38-36 to start the fourth quarter, Beacon took the lead with 6:25 left on a deep three by Jah’Real Whitted, but on the next possession Marlboro took a lead it would never relinquish.
With eight seconds left, and Beacon behind 51-46, Michai Thompson launched a deep three falling backward and was fouled, but the shot rattled around the rim before falling out in what could have been a four-point play. Thompson made two of three free throws to cut the lead to three. But after being intentionally fouled, a Marlboro player hit two free throws before Marci Rodriguez hit a consolation bucket for the final.
Whitted led the Bulldogs with 13 points, while Thompson had 12. DeNatale scored 26 for Marlboro.
“We got outplayed and out coached,” said a disappointed Coach Patrick Schetter, “Tonight doesn’t define what the season was for us — we are a young team who will bring most of our guys back. The future is bright for our guys.”
Girls advance
The girls’ basketball team dominated in its opening game of the Section IX, Class A playoffs, knocking off No. 8 seed Saugerties, 50-10, on Monday without breaking a sweat. Beacon led 22-3 at half and held Saugerties scoreless for 12 minutes, including the entire third quarter.
“We came out and committed to playing defense — our girls know how to play strong defense,” said Coach Christina Dahl. The Bulldogs were led by Reilly Landisi, who had 18 points, and Lila Burke, who scored 14.
Beacon, the No. 1 seed, will host No. 4 Red Hook at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (March 5), a rematch of last year’s Section IX, Class A semifinals, which Red Hook won, 57-46. Earlier this season, Beacon defeated Red Hook, 45-27. The winner advances to the Section I title game at 7 p.m. on Friday at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh.
