Wildcats sneak past Roscoe to Class D laurels

TED WADDELL
Posted 3/14/18

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — The championship crown was on the line. On Wednesday, February 28 at SUNY Sullivan, two local basketball rivals squared off to see who would take the tiara as the victor of …

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Wildcats sneak past Roscoe to Class D laurels

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LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — The championship crown was on the line.

On Wednesday, February 28 at SUNY Sullivan, two local basketball rivals squared off to see who would take the tiara as the victor of the Section IX Class D boys basketball title.

The Wildcats of Livingston Manor (14-7) edged the Roscoe Blue Devils (14-7) at the final buzzer despite a lackluster start to post a 10-point win (41-31).

Manor eked out a slim one-point advantage in the first frame (4-3), but trailed the Blue Devils 14-11 at the half in the low scoring contest.

The Wildcats clawed their way back in the third and deciding period as they out posted Roscoe 20-7. Both squads racked up equal numbers in the final frame, each scoring 10 points.

Roscoe’s Alex Rosario and Nik Breihof were equal partners in the scoring department, both racking up seven points, including two three-pointers by Rosario and one by Breihof.

Manor’s Juniper Brown was the game’s leading scorer with 18 points, followed by teammate Jarret Simpson (9 points, all from outside the arch).

As the rivals battled it out on the court, fans on both sides of the fence cheered them on with shouts of “Let’s Go Roscoe!” and “Let’s Go Manor!”

In the haute couture department, Wildcats aficionados helped whip up their team by sporting shocking pink tee shirts emblazoned with paw prints.

Always magnanimous in both victory and defeat, Roscoe’s veteran coach Fred Ahart said, “I am extremely proud of my team… despite… starting the season 0-3, the team went on to win 14 games… and the OCIAA Division VI title as well as several exciting games… congratulations to Livingston Manor and good luck in the regionals.”

“It was a great season, we did everything we could… Manor gave us everything they had,” said Roscoe’s Alex Rosario, choking back a few tears after the game.

Manor’s second-year coach Adam Larson said the Wildcats “had some momentum coming in… we just kept it going.”

“We went through a lot of things through the course of the season… our guys were able to overcome these things… it’s a great bunch of kids.”

Of grabbing the brass ring at the end of the carousel, Manor’s point guard Juniper Brown said, “We worked all year, every day for it.”

Teammate Allan Ward, a small forward, added, “They pushed us hard… they work us every time we play ‘em… we had to come in hot, because we know they were going to put up a fight.” 

“Defense won the game for us today… Roscoe are great competitors,” said Wildcats center Joshua Evans.

loch sheldrake, basketball

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