SUNY Sullivan sweeps regional tourney

By TED WADDELL
Posted 3/11/20

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — On Saturday and Sunday, February 29 and March 1, SUNY Sullivan hosted the 2020 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XV Division II Men’s and …

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SUNY Sullivan sweeps regional tourney

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LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — On Saturday and Sunday, February 29 and March 1, SUNY Sullivan hosted the 2020 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XV Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament at its Paul Gerry Fieldhouse, down in famed “Bunker.”

In this rambling sports scribbler’s opinion, the highlight of the tourney was the title match between the number-one-ranked Generals of SUNY Sullivan Community College (SCCC) and their rivals, the Colts of SUNY Orange County Community College (OCCC), ranked in second place.

The Colts rode their big steeds to a 38-37 lead in the first frame, right on the heels of out-netting the home team in the opening minutes of the half. In the final frame, they couldn’t keep up with a late-game surge by Sullivan, who took the Region XV Division II Championship title by a hard won score of 77-66.

At the 12:05 mark in the first half, Orange led by 10; the lead changed six times as the clock counted down in the final frame.

In the second half, Sullivan was in the driver’s seat with 4:12 remaining on the scoreboard before the buzzer, a lead they refused to yield despite a last-minute charge by the high-riding Colts.

Sullivan’s leading scorers: Darius Lee (28), Kendall Robinson (18) and Jasiah Lewis (15).

Orange: Zayne Watson (24) and Mitch Kernizan (13).

Stats from the free-throw line: SCCC 13/19 (68 percent) and OCCC 11/16 (69 percent).

According to Sullivan’s veteran athletic director and former head of the men’s basketball program Chris Depew, the Generals took to the tourney hardwood ranked second in the county (24-2 regular-season record, with a winning streak of 14 games), while the Lady Generals were in the 14th spot nationally (25-2, with a 19 game winning streak).

To pick up their ticket to the championship game, the Generals defeated the number-four-ranked Rockland Hawks (8-15) on Saturday 112-63.

High scorers for SCCC: Robinson (24), Lewis (21), Lee (18) and Eddie Sanchez (15).

Rockland: Xavier Kistoo-Miles (11), Raul Lopez (11) and Connor Parahus (10).

Stats from the free-throw line: SCCC 15/18 (83 percent) and RCCC 10/17 (59 percent).

Going into the tourney, the Lady Generals of SUNY Sullivan were ranked in first place. To get to the final round, they defeated the number-four-ranked Lady Hawks of SUNY Rockland (3-12) by an overwhelming 132-34, setting the stage for victory by netting a 39-8 lead at the half.

Sullivan’s leading posters: Ariana Buchanan (26), Adrienne Graves (25), Kadiyah Britt (17), Aniyah Calderon (16) and Johanhyah Curry (11).

Rochester: Brianna Washington netted 16 points.

Stats from the free-throw line: SCCC 7/18 (39 percent), RCCC 8-18 (44 percent).

In the championship game against the third-ranked Lady Colts of SUNY Orange (11-12), the top-ranked home team won by a statement-making 90-37.

Sullivan’s top guns: Infinity Hammonds (27) and Graves (21).

Candace McCutcheon posted 13 points for SUNY Orange.

Stats from the free-throw line: SCCC 9/15 (60 percent), OCCC 15/25 (60 percent).

Region XV handed out several awards to SUNY Sullivan for the 2019-2020 season of hoops, with men’s coach Brent Wilson being selected as Coach of the Year.

Several Generals were also honored: Player of the Year (Darius Lee); First Team All-Region (Darius Lee and Kendall Robinson), Second Team All-Region (Jasiah Lewis) and All-Sportsmanship Team (Josh Galloway).

Lady Generals: Player of the Year (Infinity Hammonds), First Team All-Region (Infinity Hammonds, Kadiyah Britt, Adrienne Graves), Second Team All-Region (Heather Caroccia) and All-Sportsmanship Team (Johnahyah Curry).

2020 National Junior College Athletic Association Region XV Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament, Generals of SUNY Sullivan Community College, Colts of SUNY Orange County Community College

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