The #5 Rye Boys Basketball team dodged a season-ending upset to Nyack on Saturday, February 21, coming from behind to win 43-34 in the first round of the Sectional tournament. The Garnets held the Redhawks to just 11 points in the second half to help them escape their final home game of the season with a win – a true example of “survive and advance”.
“The only way we win is with the defensive effort we had…. our defense kept us in the game,” Head Coach Tommy Proudian told MyRye.com. “Another testament to the character and resolve of our team. They gutted it out because they’re winners.”
The Garnets trailed throughout the first half and again with less than five minutes to play after a third quarter push from the Redhawks, but used their resolve effectively to avoid an upset defeat. Rye managed to advance to the second round despite shooting just 12-41 from the field (29%) and committing 14 turnovers. They got hot at the right time, turning a 3-point deficit into an 11-point win thanks to a 17-3 fourth quarter.
Ben Hudson and Carson Miller both led the way with 14 points, and Henry Shoemaker also reached double figures with ten. Nyack’s leading scorer only mustered eight points in the losing effort.
#5 Rye (15-5, 1-0 postseason) will head to the road for their quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, February 25, against #4 Horace Greeley. An upset win would put the Garnets back in the Final Four at the County Center for the second year in a row under Proudian. Replay the round of sixteen win over Nyack here.
