Huskies Overrun Tigers at 22nd Annual Harry Jefferson Showcase
It would certainly be an understatement to say that the White Plains High School Varsity Basketball Team seemed outmatched by Harrison High School in the Harry Jefferson Showcase on Saturday.
What was most distressing to Head Coach Spencer Mayfield was that this event was not only the Tigers annual Holiday Tournament, it was their Home Opener and the Harry Jefferson Gym was filled to capacity with Tigers fans and alumni.
The Tigers were run-off their own court by the Huskies, 61-44, only showing signs of continuity and urgency late in the fourth quarter of the game. “I was very disappointed with our effort tonight,” said Mayfield. “Our biggest disappointment was the lack of effort and team concept; that really bothered me tonight.”
The 22nd Annual Harry Jefferson Basketball Showcase was a two-day event this season with White Plains High School showcasing their Freshmen, Junior Varsity and Varsity teams versus the Harrison High School teams on Friday. Then on Saturday, the neighboring teams took to the court to showcase their skills.
Yaverbaum (center) had 13 points in the game with nine points coming in the fourth quarter on three three-point shots.
The White Plains Tigers won the first game of their 2015-16 campaign, while outlasting Suffern High School, 54-51, on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The Tigers secured the win against Suffern despite two of their starting players, guard Luis Cartagena and forward CJ Layne sidelined with injuries.
Layne will miss a significant amount of time with a broken wrist but Cartagena returned to the line-up against Harrison. Therefore, with the Tigers top offensive threat back on the court in the Harry Jefferson Showcase, certainly the capacity crowd expected more than they witnessed from the Tigers varsity team.
Cartagena’s rust showed while scoring only three points in the game and very much inept while trying to out maneuver the Huskies defense. Tigers guard Lamar Noel had a team-high 15 points but the Tigers only had two players who scored in double-figures and more turnovers than even need mentioning.
For the most part, Noel was the only offense for the Tigers throughout the game. Tigers guard Jace Yaverbaum scored 13 points but nine of his points came in the fourth quarter, as he tried to bring some respectability to the Tigers. “We just had a different agenda tonight and no respect for the basketball,” commented Mayfield.
Huskies guard Zack Evans was awarded the MVP of the Varsity Game, while playing tenacious defense and scoring 11 points. Yaverbaum’s nine points in the fourth quarter gained him the Sportsmanship Award of the Game.
The Tigers Freshman Team were the only winners for White Plains in the Harry Jefferson Showcase, while edging Harrison 38-35. Tigers guard Zyon Poteat was the MVP.
The White Plains junior varsity played well but was beaten by Harrison, 49-45. Huskies Tyler Menniti awarded the MVP of the game and Sam Jerrick for the Tigers garnished the Sportsmanship Award.
On Saturday, at the 22nd Annual Harry Jefferson Showcase, the results for the three-game out-of-town slate were: Mamaroneck defeated Tuckahoe, 73-59; Saunders beat Uniondale, 55-52 and Spring Valley defeated Yorktown, 71-62.
