BOYS’ BASKETBALL — The Blue Devils ground out a 48-40 comeback win at Croton-Harmon on Feb. 14 to win the league title for the seventh season in a row, although this year they share it with Putnam Valley.
Haldane scored only seven points in the first quarter, but Fallou Faye kept them in the game, scoring 15 of the team’s 18 first-half points. In the third quarter, Luke Bozsik attacked the basket with force and the Blue Devils trailed by three points going into the fourth.
Bozsik gave Haldane the lead, 34-33, with 7:07 left, and he and Faye scored 16 of the team’s final 18 points. Faye finished with 23, a career high, and Bozsik had 17, including 14 in the second half. “Fallou won the game for us tonight,” said Coach Joe Virgadamo. The game would not have been as close if Haldane had hit more free throws; the team finished 11 for 21.
The Blue Devils, who finished at 13-7 (7-1 league), are seeded No. 6 in the 10-team field for the Section I, Class B tournament. They travel to No. 3 Briarcliff (12-8) on Wednesday (Feb. 26); the Bears defeated Haldane earlier this season, 48-43. The winner advances to the semifinals on March 2 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL — The Blue Devils fell to visiting Croton-Harmon on Feb. 13, 43-27. Kayla Ruggiero hit a 3-pointer with 6:49 left in the game to cut the Tigers’ lead to five, but that was as close as Haldane could get.
On Feb. 15, Haldane closed out its season with a loss at home to Blind Brook, 50-31. Marisa Peters scored 10 points, Ruggiero had 8 and Miley Pena-Rider added 6. The Blue Devils (4-16) are idle until March 3, when they will travel to the Westchester County Center for the Section I, Class C tournament. Seeded No. 3 in the four-team field, Haldane will face No. 2 North Salem (4-16), who defeated the Blue Devils twice this season. The winner advances to play No. 1 Tuckahoe (13-7) or No. 4 Keio Academy (0-18) for the title on March 8.
WINTER TRACK — Haldane competed on Feb. 16 in the Section I, Class C championships at The Armory in New York City. For the boys, Milo Pearsall won the long jump (19-10.75) and was second in the 55-meter dash (6.78); Owen Powers won the 1,600 meter (4:32.28); Merrick Williams was second in the high jump (5-8); James Frommer was fourth in the 600 meters (1:30.53); and Jack Illian was fourth in the 3,200 meters (10:33.30). Haldane also won the 4×200 relay (1:35.12) and was second in the 4×800 relay (8:59.54).
For the girls, Ashley Sousa was eighth in the 1,500 meters (5:46.50); Clara Schmitt was sixth in the 55-meter hurdles (10.52); and Shayla Ochoa was seventh in the long jump (13-10.75). The Blue Devils return to The Armory on Sunday (Feb. 23) for the Section I state qualifier.
