Unbridled grace

Richard A Ross
Posted 8/21/12

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — And then there were two. In a week that saw the noble title quests of a bevy of Sullivan County teams end, both the Eldred Lady Yellow Jackets (16-3) and the Livingston Boys …

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Unbridled grace

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — And then there were two. In a week that saw the noble title quests of a bevy of Sullivan County teams end, both the Eldred Lady Yellow Jackets (16-3) and the Livingston Boys Manor Wildcats (12-5) advanced into state-round play with their Section IX championship victories. The defending champion Lady Yellow Jackets easily dispatched Livingston Manor 50-21, and now move on to face Section IV’s South Kortright (22-0), the top-ranked girls Class D team in the state, at Mount St. Mary College on March 13. Last year the Eldred girls won Section IX by default and advanced to the state semifinals with a bye before losing to Section V’s Romulus. In boys play this year, the Wildcats vanquished Eldred for their first title since 2012 and move on to face Section One’s Clark Academy (13-7) at SUNY New Paltz on March 11.

Such victories were not in the cards for the other county contenders. Life is change. Life is growth. Life is acceptance. And an integral part of acceptance is coming to terms with the reality that all things must pass. For the Sullivan County basketball teams who aspired to win a Section IX title but who came up short in their quests, it’s time to feel the full measure of success and accomplishments, to embrace the joys, the friendships and the halcyon moments and not to dwell on what, for all teams save one state champion in any class, ends in eventual defeats. For the Class C Sullivan West Bulldogs (12-8), their storied quarterfinal win over Seward will never be effaced despite the team’s 63-38 semifinal loss to Rhinebeck. The Hawks, who seemed so dominant in that home victory, would themselves succumb to No.4 Chester 62-47 in the finals. The Rhinebeck game was the swan song for Westie seniors Ronj Padu, Hanrii Padu, Noah Bauer, Richard Shevak, Andrew Stabbert, Douglas Farrell, Jiron Kevii and Mark Castro. Bauer’s trio of treys in the game cemented his Section IX leading role in that category with 67. Elimination from tournament contention would be the fate as well of the Class B Liberty Indians (6-11), who lost to Highland 72-45. For Class A Monticello (15-5), which had vanquished New Paltz 77-71 in the quarterfinals, the great season ride ended with a 73-59 loss to eventual champion Saugerties two nights later. Sha-Shawn Drayton paced the Panthers with 19. Rafael Ortiz had 18 that included a quartet of treys. Devin Williams posted 13. On the girls’ side of the ledger, the Class C Tri-Valley Lady Bears (10-9) fell to eventual champion Pine Plains 59-56. Senior Caroline Martin exited the stage with a team-high 23 points in the game. The Class B Fallsburg Lady Comets (15-5) saw their storied run end in a 73-45 loss to Marlboro, who in turn succumbed to Spackenkill in the finals. Stories that affirm the positives and put the season’s closure in a positive light can be found at www.sportsinsightsny.com in pieces entitled, “An Ode to Joy and Not to Sorrow” and “Into the Sunset.”

Local athletes with the exception of the two winning teams will now turn their attention to their spring sports pursuits in baseball, softball, golf or track and field. The spring season officially began on March 11. Indoor practices will be the order of things until the weather becomes more amenable to outdoor endeavors. At the State Federation Indoor Track Championships, locals evinced noteworthy performances. Sullivan West’s Anthony Rydell threw a lifetime-best 52-7 in the weight throw to claim 14th in the state. Fallsburg’s Candhace Forrest ran a personal best, school best time of 7.31.16 in the 55 to marshal 13th place in the state. Port Jervis’ Kobe Lane took eighth in the 3200 (9:28.29); teammate Troy Zanger was sixth in the high jump (6-2). Port’s Brittany Fuller (10:44.41) took 24th in the 3000. For albums of photos visit www.sportsiny.com. To sign up for spring Shadow Play coverage of your favorite athlete to receive a DVD of outstanding photos at the end of the season, e-mail rross@sportsinsightsny.com.

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