The #5 Rye Boys Basketball team toughed out a huge win in the Sectional semifinals on Monday, March 2, as they upset the top-ranked Suffern Mounties 60-49. With the win, the Garnets have punched their ticket back to the championship game on Saturday for the second year in a row, both times via a semifinals upset.
“The players shot the lights out from three-point range on the big stage,” Head Coach Tommy Proudian proudly told MyRye.com after the victory. “They made key shots in big moments to halt Suffern’s comeback attempts throughout the second half. Total team effort.”
Nearly everything went right for the Garnets on Monday evening, as both their starters and bench scored efficiently from the field. Rye also started impossibly well, going up 21-6 after the first quarter after an extended 18-2 run, and held onto a lead for the entire night. Their defense was strong in all facets – shot defense, rebounding, and turnovers forced.
“The players executed our defensive game plan to perfection, which was geared and designed to contain Jake Pampolina, Suffern’s star player and Rockland County’s all time leading scorer,” Proudian said. “All credit goes to the players for rising to the occasion and executing all night.”
Pampolina tied Henry Shoemaker with 19 points as both players shared the game lead in points. Ben Hudson added 14 and Carson Miller 13 points to support Shoemaker in the shocking win.
The #5 Garnets (17-5, 3-0 postseason) will look to avenge their Sectional championship game loss last season on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30pm at the County Center. They will seek to upset #3 Clarkstown North in the finals to take home their first State title in the Class AA division and advance to the State tournament.
