Boys Hoops Preview 2024-25 – Peekskill, Byram Hills, Haldane Seeking Repeat Efforts in 2025

Yorktown Set to Reload in AA; New Coaches at PV, Hen Hud, Lakeland, Panas, Valhalla

By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays

There was a bonanza of Section 1 titles to be had in and about the Examiner region (Ex-area) in the winter of 2024, including top-seeded Class C Haldane, second-seeded Class AA Peekskill and fourth-seeded Class A Byram Hills, all which managed to gain access into the NYSPHSAA tournament after grabbing the section’s top prize.

And, despite being labeled as top seeds, White Plains (AAA) and Yorktown (AA) came up just short of a title, and hope to rebound and exceed expectations during a motivated 2025 campaign.

While the ultimate goal for all is to win a Section 1 title, there’s something to be said about a Final 4 berth: Playing in the Section 1 semis at the fabled Westchester County Center in the early days of March is second fiddle, only to a title.

Five-time NYS champion Peekskill, a former super power on the state stage, earned its first sectional title since 2009, 19th overall (since 1936), under Red Devil boss Tyrone ‘SeaDawg’ Searight and returns All-NYS swingman Jaden Chavis and enough firepower to get back to County Center; its one-time home away from home. The Red Devils are stacked with experienced seniors and pose a serious threat to all.

Haldane, which is moving up to Class B this season, will need to figure out a way to replace All-NYS F Matthew Nachamkin if, indeed, Coach Joe Vigadamo’s Blue Devils intend to make a splash at the next level, their first endeavor into Class B waters.

It’ll be business as usual at four-time Section 1 champion Byram Hills (1978-2011-16-24) where classy Coach Ted Repa will hope to find someone to fill the shoes of his All-NYS son, Tyson, among the top Bobcats of all time, but slamma-jamma man, 6’5” 220-pound senior Zach Efobi (he of the #PterodactylWingspan) is poised to take the torch and dunk it off dimes from senior G Chris Amenedo. Yeah, ‘them Bobcats’ are going to be a handful for Class A; make that Section 1. Oh, and hotshot senior Brody Ceisler is back after a year on the injured list. This is a pretty sick unit.

As is most often the case, 12-time NYS champion Mount Vernon returns as the Section 1 Class AAA champions, and there’s no denying the Knights are the team to beat no matter what the calendar year says.

Reigning Class B champion Woodlands is said to be as strong as ever as 2024 turns to 2025, so you best be ready to lace up your big boy shoes in order to take down the Falcons, who feature Jameson Stevens, the big man inside who will pose a problem for every team in Class B, and Aaron Woodberry, the younger brother of 2024 tourney MVP Eric, who has really morphed into a player this offseason.

 

CLASS AA

Nine Examiner-area teams are poised to do damage, including reigning champion Peekskill, plus a Yorktown club that features, perhaps, the top athlete in the section in senior swingman Kaden Gonzalez, the QB of the Huskers coming off an All-Section season in football. The new classifications have watered down just about every class except Class AA where 27, yes, 27 teams are in line for the Final 4. Class AAA has 14, Class A has 17 and Class B has 11.

Class AA is seriously interesting. Not only do Peekskill and one-time Section 1 champ Yorktown (1971) come in with high expectations, but seven-time sectional champion Fox Lane (1970-72-85-2004-16 & 2 as Bedford Hills in 1935-43) is as consistent a program as we have in the EX-area and returns a seasoned scorer in Arthur Shevick. One-time sectional champion Somers (1992) is super athletic and Carmel, which has never won it all, will pose significant matchup problems with efficient, speedy G Aidan White and the ‘King’, the mighty 6’4”, 265-pound junior C, King Mercer, looking every bit the part of a Sir Charles Barkley-type space eater in the paint #EnterAtYourOwnRisk.

Two-time sectional champion Horace Greeley (1980-2020) and two-time champ Walter Panas (1997-2014) are always sneaky good, too, while Lakeland, Brewster and Mahopac (which was stunned last winter as a 3-seed and lost to No.19 Brewster), all come at you with tons of athleticism but zero sectional titles between them.

Somers, which is still in football mode, was a two-point loss to Suffern away from reaching the Final 4 with Yorktown, Eastchester and Peekskill, which has simply reloaded and enters the 2024-25 campaign as the favorites to repeat. Class AA will be an absolute beast and the survivor will be battle tested for sure.

 

PEEKSKILL RED DEVILS

Coach: Tyrone Searight, asst. Daquan Brickhouse

2023-24 record: 23-2, lost in NYS semi regional to Our Lady of Lourdes

Top Returning Players: All-NYS G Jaiden Chavis; G Isaiah Crawford; F Marquette Webster

Key Newcomers: Will Ofori; JoJo Brickhouse; Kaden Mercer

Top Scoring Threat: Chavis

Top Defender: Brickhouse, Ofori

Best on Boards: Webster

Team Strength: Pressure defense

Needs Work: Trust the process

League Favorite: Peekywood

Section Favorite: Not sure, AA is tough, a lot of good teams going for that gold ball.

Goals: Win our league again, get to that AA Section 1 Gold Ball night

Coaches Comments/Outlook.  Just take it one game at a time, get better each day, things will fall into place.

 

YORKTOWN CORNHUSKERS

Coach: Mark Pavella

2023-24 record: 20-3

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost in semis to Suffern

Top Returning Players: Kaden Gonzalez, Ryan Duffy, Brian Hansen, David Marasevic, Sander Stone, Ty Travis, Phil Harbolic

Key Newcomers: Aidan Flynn, Franklin Ringel, Colin Worden, Jimmy Goff, Sean Davis, Gabe Scavello, Ethan Bantug

Top Scoring Threats: Gonzalez, Duffy

Top Defenders:  Duffy, Travis, Hansen, Worden

Best on Boards: Duffy, Ringel, Flynn

Team Grunt: Duffy

Team Strengths: We have a core group of guys who are returning with valuable experience from a year ago.  The kids are enthusiastic, and play well together as a team.

Needs Work: We will work on developing a plan that works best for the players we have on this team. We will focus on team rebounding and defense.

League Favorite:  This year we are in a new league with teams from Dutchess and Putnam County. So it’s hard to pick a favorite at this point.

Section Favorite: Since Peekskill is the defending champs, and they return some key pieces from a season ago, they have to be a contender. However, I believe there are a handful of teams that can be competing for a gold ball at the county center in Class A.

Goals: As a team we are looking to enjoy each practice, and compete. We look forward to the challenge ahead, and are excited to open up the season.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We look forward to opening night on 12/9 at home vs. Brewster.

Twitter X/Insta Account: @YorktownH

 

FOX LANE FOXES

Coach: Mike Tomassi

2023-24 record: 13-9

Section 1 Tournament Results: First Round Playoff Win over Clarkstown South. Lost in the Quarterfinals to Yorktown.

Top Returning Players: Arthur Shevick, Logan Mammola, Evan Mayers, Eli Daglio, Will Oliverio

Key Newcomers: Janak Bain, Ethan Mayers, Mac Keller, Will Broghammer, Sebastian Getz

Top Scoring Threats: Shevick, Mayers

Top Defenders: Oliverio

 Best on Boards: Mammola

Team Grunt: Mammola, Bain

Team Strengths: cohesiveness, defense, ball movement

Needs Work: rebounding, protecting the ball

League Favorite: White Plains

Section Favorite: Peekskill

Goals: To win a league and sectional championship

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: Foxes are looking to build off of a 13-9 season last year with a ton of returning players. We are hoping for a deep playoff run that will be built off of defense and sharing the ball.

Twitter X/Insta Account: @foxlanebaskeball

 

SOMERS TUSKERS

Coach: James Loughran

2023-24 record: 15-7

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost to Suffern in Quarterfinals, 46-44.

Top Returning Players: Phil Santore (Sr, G), Chris Spano (Sr, F), Tim Monahan (Sr, F),

Leo Keimig (Jr., G)

Key Newcomers: Nico Quinones (Jr, G), Christopher Decker (Jr, F), Julian Rosa (Jr, G), Ben

O’Brien (Jr, G), Aidan Coolican (Sr, G), Kareef Martin (So, G) (Other still pending on

newcomers on the arrival of our football team)

Top Scoring Threat: Phil Santore (Sr, G)

Top Defenders: Decker, Roas, Monahan

Best on Boards: Spano, Decker, Monahan

Team Grunt: Monahan, Coolican

Team Strengths: Commitment to the work. All summer and fall, we couldn’t have asked

for anything better than every workout, every guy stayed consistent. This is a group that can learn things quickly, and will absorb a lot of coaching and teaching.

Needs Work: The biggest of them all, is being defensive minded and staying committed to

that end of the floor. Buying into playing a certain way defensively will be a big thing for

this group. As well as, finding ways to consistently score the ball. We have guys who can

score, there is no question, but can we be able to provide multiple players a night to provide

scoring for us will be the question. Being able to score at multiple levels and not hold

ourselves to being a one dimensional scoring team. As well as being consistent in our shot

selection and executing through our system.

League Favorite: John Jay Cross River

Section Favorite: Peekskill

Goals: 1st and foremost, chase the league title. That’s always the goal to have. Yet, Playing

with a ‘next play’, ‘next game’, ‘new day’ mentality when we may hit some blows this year

will be important. Our goal is to always get back to where we were last year, to the

quarterfinals and see where it can take us. Until then, we will just continue to try and win

each day, each practice, each game.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: Graduating a whole starting lineup, you hear it all. You hear

how inexperienced you will be, you hear how much talent you lost, you hear how you won’t

ever get back to where you were with the group you had, and you hear the question of

‘How are you going to score the ball?’. Every year people compare the current team to the

previous one. To me, it’s disrespectful to the guys who are throwing these jersey’s on next. I

just keep reminding the players that the external expectations are not a true representation

of the family we built. They are living amongst the shadows of athletes, who have helped

build this program. Every year is a different chapter to write, a different book to read. The

goal is to stay motivated and keep these players believing in themselves, one another and

our brand of basketball. In life, there are a lot of people to prove wrong and a lot of things

to prove to ourselves. What I can promise you is that they will know our inner circle is the

valued voice of belief they will hear all season. The outside opinions will forever be noise. I

am excited for this group to build their own story here at Somers, and look forward to

guiding these guys to the highest ceilings they can reach.

Twitter X/Insta Account: X @somersboyshoops

 

GREELEY QUAKERS

Coach: Matt Simone

2023-24 record: 11-10

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost in double overtime to Eastchester

Top Returning Players: Zach Boyriven, Jake Sheehy, Jordan Nadel, Jaxson Thomas, Jonny Sala, Ryder Goodman, Ayden Smith, Alex Horowitz

Key Newcomers: Jackson Honig, Sam Bourne, Orion Finn, Jesse Kamen, Levi Sack

Top Scoring Threats: Boyriven, Sheehy, Thomas, Horowitz, Sack

Top Defenders: Smith, Nadel, Goodman, Sack, Boyriven, Sheehy

Best on Boards: Sheehy, Nadel, Boyriven

Team Grunt: TBD

Team Strengths: Speed and togetherness

Needs Work: Size and Strength

League Favorite: Fox Lane

Section Favorite: Yorktown

Goals: Compete for a league title, compete for section title

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We have a competitive group of good athletes who have bought into the style of play we are looking to do. If we stick together as a team and work through adversity we have the ability to compete with any one we face.

Twitter X/Insta Account:@GreeleyHoops, @GreeleyBasketball

 

CARMEL RAMS

Coach: Joe Loughlin

2023-24 record: 7-15

Section 1 Tournament Results: won outbracket vs. Lincoln,  lost 1st rd. to Yorktown

Top Returning Players: Aiden White SR 5’11 G; Joey Loughlin SR 5’11 G; Jair Johnson SR 5’10 G; Aidan Luciana SR 5’10 G; Teddy Galbraith SR 6’5 F; Alex Berardi SR 6’4 F; King Mercer JR 6’4 F; Connor Murphy JR 6’0 G

Key Newcomers: Nick Kreatsoulas SR 5’10 G; Ryan Bevan JR 5’10 G; Dylan Sullivan JR 6’1 G; Jonathan Nelaj JR 6’2 F; Owen Yost JR 6’0 F

Top Scoring Threats: White. Loughlin

Top Defenders: Johnson, Mercer

 Best on Boards: Mercer, Galbraith

Team Grunt: Everyone

Team Strengths: Playing for each other and the name on the front of the jersey.

Needs Work: Defense always needs work regardless of how we did yesterday. Staying calm, poised and remembering to have fun out there.

League Favorite: Tough league, multiple teams are capable.

Section Favorite: AA is very deep, multiple favorites.

Goals: Compete

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: I know the guys in the locker room can’t wait to get going as well as the staff.  The roster is full of workers who went hard all off-season and will give everything they have every night. We play in a tough league and put a tough out of league schedule together which should help us grow and hopefully be playing our best basketball in February.

Twitter X: @CarmelBball2

Insta Account: @carmelhoops_

 

MAHOPAC WOLFPAC

Coach: Matt Calabro

2023-24 record: 18-2

Section 1 Tournament Results: First round loss to Brewster

Top Returning Players: Matt Reilly, Drew Lichtenberger, Ronan Hunter, Drew LaRue

Key Newcomers: Dean Ulaj, Ethan Dedvukaj, Ryan LaRue, Sal Garufi, Justin Beberman, Mo Holmes, RJ Grabeklis, Dylan Bello

Top Scoring Threats: TBD

Top Defenders: TBD

Best on Boards: TBD

Team Grunt: Sal Garufi

Team Strengths: Coachability and work ethic

Needs Work: Small details

League Favorite: Arlington

Section Favorite: Rye

Goals: Goal is always to reach our potential and win our league

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: Looking forward to competing and seeing what our young group is made of. This is a fun group to coach.

Twitter X/Insta Account: @Mahopachoops

 

LAKELAND HORNETS

Coach: Shawn Sullivan

2023-24 record: 11-11

Section 1 Tournament Results: First round loss to Hastings

Top Returning Players: Oban Rader , Anthony Attanasi, Ovi Rodriguez, Aaryn Sandhu

Nick Ferrante

Key Newcomers: Sergio Hormazabal, CC Savastano, Anthony D’Errico, Joe LaPuerta,

Luke Lulanaj, Aadi Sandhu, Anthony Ray, Mike Lucia

Top Scoring Threats: Rader (inside), Attanasi (outside)

Top Defenders: Ferrante

Best on Boards: Rader

Team Grunt: Ferrante

Team Strengths: Work ethic, positive attitude, playing together (unselfish)

Needs Work: We graduated 97% of the offense. Everyone has a new role, so we are a work in progress.

League Favorite: Somers

Section Favorite: Tappan Zee

Goals: Be playing our best basketball in February/March

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: I am extremely excited to be back coaching boys with this group of young men. Their energy and love of basketball is second to none. I can’t wait to see what type of team we can become.

 

BREWSTER BEARS

Coach: Mike Nicastro

2023-24 record: 7-16

Section 1 Tournament Results: upset #17 Clarkstown North, upset #3 Mahopac, Lost to Eastchester in the Quarterfinals

Top Returning Players:  Will Dignan G, Harrison Schmitt F, Billy Pappas G/F

Key Newcomers: Luke Cunningham F, KJ Dillion G/F

Top Scoring Threats: Dignan, Schmitt, Pappas

Top Defenders: Cunningham

 Best on Boards: Schmitt, Simon Laine F/C

Team Grunt: Pappas

Team Strengths:  Mental Toughness

Needs Work:  Conditioning

League Favorite: Our league is very competitive and the league title is very much up for grabs.

Section Favorite: Peekskill

Goals:  Our goal is to be competitive in every game.  We want to have a winning season.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We are returning a four-year Varsity player Will Dignan. Will’s an outstanding shooter and passer with one of the highest basketball IQs.  Additionally, we have two players (Schmidt and Pappas) who played significant roles last season as juniors.  Luke Cunningham is an elite athlete coming up from JV who will have a major role on our team this year.  Additionally, we have some returning athletes along with some athletic juniors coming up that can help our team’s success. We are concentrating on being a tough basketball team that does all the little things needed to win basketball games.

Twitter X/Insta Account: X- @Brewsterbball24

Noteworthy: Brewster beat John Jay Cross River, 40-38, in its season opener. Brewster was led by Will Dignan 18 points, 4 assists, 8 boards. Joell Drue and Billy Pappas added 10 each.

 

WALTER PANAS PANTHERS

Coach: Ryan Dobson (1st year)

2023-24 record: 6-14 after a 5-5 start. Rough finish.

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost to Albertus Magnus in outbracket 65-45

Top Returning Players: Isaiah Wallace, Amari Rooms, Cory Williams and Sean Coen (all seniors)

Key Newcomers: Mike Salaberrios (Soph) and Assistant Coach Timmy McCauley.

Top Scoring Threats: Isaiah Wallace, Amari Rooms and Mike Salaberrios

Top Defenders: Cory Williams

Best on Boards: Amari Rooms

Team Grunt: Ryan Scozzafava

Team Strengths: The element of surprise. We have streaky players.

Needs Work: Ball handling, passing, screening, conditioning and defense.

League Favorite: Somers

Section Favorite: Peekskill / Somers / Mahopac

Goals:  We have young talent in the program. It is important for our current seniors to set a foundation for the next few years. We have to finish the season stronger than when we start it. We want a majority of scholar-athlete award winners.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook:  A lot of these players have waited their turn for this opportunity. I am excited for them to show us what they got. I also am excited to have Timmy McCauley coaching in the program. Timmy is a Panas Hall of Famer who put the team goals first and performed in the biggest of moments. We have young guards and I look forward to having them work with Timmy.

 

CLASS A

Six of our EX-area teams are vying for supremacy, including Byram Hills, one-time Section 1 champ Hen Hud (1944), four-time Section 1 champ Croton-Harmon (1934-36-42-45), eight–time champ Pleasantville (1945-59-76-91-92-2000-01-17), two-time champ Westlake (1965-69) and a youthful Putnam Valley club. All will get after the gold ball among a 17-team field of solid challengers led by reigning champ Byram Hills, runner-up Rye and a Sailor club that reached the County Center Final 4 last year along with then-top-seeded Pearl River. Oh, and don’t say we didn’t warn ya bout Bobcat Brody Ceisler, who scored 23 points in 18 minutes upon his return from injury in opening round win in Briarcliff tourney over Nanuet. Chris Amenedo (20 pts, 5 steals) and Zach Efobi (5 pts, 13 rbs).

BYRAM HILLS BOBCATS

Coach: Ted Repa (23rd year)

2023-24 record & playoff result: 18-7 (won Class A Section 1 championship, lost in NYS Regionals)

Top returning players: Zac Efobi 6’5” Sr. Center – 11 PPG, 14 RPG, 2 blocks, All-Section;

Chris Amenedo, 5’11” Sr. Guard – 12.6 PPG, 38 made 3’s, All-League HM; Brody Ceisler 6” Sr. Guard – DNP last year (injury) – 9 PPG, (50 made 3’s) All-League HM (2023); Ari Dreilinger – 5’11” Sr. Guard – 4 PPG; Max Miller – 5’9” Jr. Guard – 6.7 PPG; Ben Wolf – 6’7” Soph. Forward – 4PPG; Kevin Kendall – 6’3” Jr. Wing – 3 PPG

Team strengths: Good size, experienced roster, depth, shooting

What we need to get better at: Defense still a work in progress, end of quarter/game

execution

Goals: Gold Ball

Coach’s Comments: The Bobcats are back and intent on pursuing another gold ball.

Despite losing 1st Team All-State guard Tyson Repa (Union College), the team returns nine

players, including All-Section big man Zach Efobi (60 dunks last year), Section 1 All

Tournament Team Chris Amenedo, and Brody Ceisler – sharp shooting starter who missed

all of last season with injuries. Expect major improvement from 6’7” sophomore forward

Ben Wolf, as well as 6’3” junior Kevin Kendall, who both made great strides since last season.

Execution down the stretch, and how well this team defends will determine how far they can

go, but the talent is there for another deep playoff run.

Tournaments: Briarcliff Tournament 12/6-7, Bronxville Tournament 12/13-14

Notable Games: Scarsdale @ the County Center, Newburgh Free Academy, TZ, Rye 2x,

Pearl River

Noteworthy: In the finals of Briarcliff Tournament, the Bobcats defeat the host 58-40 to repeat as tourney champions. Ceisler MVP (17 P),  All-Tourney: Amenedo (16), Efobi (8 P, 16 R), Kevin Kendall (10 P).

 

HEN HUD SAILORS

Coach: Steve Purcigliotti

2023-24 record: 15-8

Section 1 Tournament Results: Beat Pleasantville 56-45 in the Opening Round, beat Hastings 57-54 in the Quarterfinals.  Lost to Rye 64-55 in the Class A semifinals at the County Center.

Top Returning Players: Justin Parkes (Jr.-G), Nasir Emery (Sr.-F), Joseph Abboud (Sr.-F), Jack Hiltsley (Jr.-G), Hunter Kennedy-Brown, (Soph.-G), Will Bruce (Sr.-G), Nate Freedman (Sr.-F), Chase Salameh (Sr.-F)

Key Newcomers: Drew Hiltsley (8th Grade-G), Conor Butts (Fr.-G), Richie Simonetti (Jr.-G), Shane Hayes (Sr.-F)

Top Scoring Threats: The nice part about our team this year is we don’t have to rely on one player to shoulder the scoring burden.  We’re confident we can have five people on the court at one time who can score 6-10 points a game.

Top Defenders: Parkes. He’s got tremendous quickness and he is certainly one of the quickest players we’ve had in a long time.  Emery is 6’7” and moves well.  His length is certainly an asset for us on this end of the floor.  Kennedy-Brown also guards well for a young player and will only get better as the season progresses.

Best on Boards: Abboud.  Although not very tall, he’s got a toughness and knack for the ball you can’t teach. Like many of our players, his motor does not stop especially when going to the glass.

Team Strengths: Quickness and Athleticism

Needs Work: It’s a new team so we need to continue to build our chemistry.  So far, during the first week of practice, this has been excellent!  I think my assistant, Coach Coyle, has said it best to the team- “We need to find our voice.”  But he and I are excited because we have a great group of players who are tremendously coachable.

League Favorite: Peekskill

Section Favorite: Pearl River and Byram Hills

Goals: Get better every day, play with maximum effort, and when people come to see us play, they walk away saying to themselves- “Hen Hud plays the game the right way.”  If we play the game the right way, the results on the scoreboard will take care of themselves.  The words ‘Sailor Pride’ are painted in our gym.  To me, that means to play tough and always play hard.  Great coaches in all sports like Paul Natale, Dutch Pritts, and my predecessor Jordan Hirsch always talked to their teams about ‘Sailor Pride’.  (AD) Tommy Baker is always talking about ‘Sailor Pride.’  I’m confident we have a group which embodies the words ‘Sailor Pride.’

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: I’m excited to return to coaching at the varsity level again especially here.  This is my 23rd year teaching at our school and we have great kids in our building.  After a few years away after coaching our JV team from 2016-2022, I never could have imagined this opportunity would present itself again.  But here we are and I’m excited!  I believe we have the athleticism and quickness to be successful.  What that looks like in terms of wins and losses?  We won’t know until we scrimmage (John Jay Cross River on November 30 and Mahopac on December 4) and then play for real against Sleepy Hollow in the first round of their tournament on Friday December 6.  However, we have an excellent group of very coachable players so that gets me excited each day since the season began on November 18.

X/Insta Account: TwitterX-@HenHudBall; Instagram– Instagram.com/henhudball

 

CROTON-HARMON TIGERS

Coach: Ben Martucci

2023-24 record: 9-11

Tournament results: Lost to #2 Alexander Hamilton in the Class B Quarterfinals

Top returning players: Gabriel Alpher 12, F; Luca Cappelli 12, G; Gavin Cunningham 12, C;

Colin Davenport 11, F; Gavin Dugan 11, G; Ryan Eng 12, G; Vincent Flynn 11, G; Joshua Reed 12, G; Christopher Yan 12, G

Key newcomers: Rob DeLasho 12, F; Harrison Khan 12, G; Dylan Sharkey 11, F; John Skrelja 11, F; Brayden Tulevski 11, F

Top Scoring Threats: Flynn, Dugan

Top Defender: Davenport, Skrelja

Best on Boards: Cunningham

Team Strengths: Good motor, solid work ethic

Needs Work: Gang rebounding, both on the ball and off the ball help defense

League Favorite: Haldane

Section 1 Class A Favorite: Byram Hills and Obama

Goals: #1 goal is to maintain our health. We were devastated with injuries last season, at times

with only seven healthy on the roster. We want to push the tempo, and play aggressive as a group

defensively

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We just moved up to Class A. The competition will be extremely

tough. There are schools with over 250 more students than we have. We have a hard working

group. We are the smallest team (height wise) in all Section 1. We need to space the floor, and

really, really push the tempo. We do not want to get caught up in a “grind it out”, half-court type

of game.

X/Insta Account: @CHHSTigersBball

 

PLEASANTVILLE PANTHERS

Coach: Bob Jordon

2023-24 record: 11-10

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost to Hen Hud opening round

Top Returning Players: Matt O’Neill, Declan Bruder, Nathan Barret

Key Newcomers: Martin Blasdell, Peter Dispenza, Mason Rizzi

Top Scoring Threats: Bruder, Barreto

Top Defenders: O’Neill

Best on Boards: O’Neill, Bruder

Team Grunt: Eamon O’Connell

Team Strengths: Work ethic

Needs Work: Consistent scorers

League Favorite: Briarcliff

Goals: With only 3 players returning with varsity experience our goal is to collectively improve. Coach’s Comments/Outlook: Although this group lacks varsity experience, the leadership from those that do return is outstanding. We will be ready to compete.

Twitter X/Insta Account: @pville_bb

Noteworthy: In the season opener for both teams, P’ville knocked off Croton, 55-36; Panthers Bruder (18 pts), O’Neill (12) and Berreto (12) leading the way. Flynn (18 pts) and Dugan (8 pts) led the Tigers.

 

PUTNAM VALLEY TIGERS

Coach: JD Apostolico

2023-24 record: 11-10

Section 1 Tournament Results: lost to Byram Hills 1st round

Top Returning Players: Sr. G, James (Apple) Apostolico; Sr. F, Dylan Tucker; Sr.

F, Angelo Brescia; Jr. G Jackson Weller

Key Newcomers: Sophomores Logan Moriarty, Jack Marinelli, Zach Gabriel, David

Berdecia and freshman Ethan Tesher

Top Scoring Threats: Apostolico… with a balance from the sophomores and

freshman.

Top Defenders: Gabriel, Tesher

Best on Boards: Tucker

Team Grunt: Brescia

Team Strengths: 4-year varsity player (3-year starter) and leading scorer Apostolico

leading the team with significant contributions and balance from Tucker, Brescia and the

sophomores and freshmen.

Needs Work: Team chemistry on the floor.

League Favorite: Putnam Valley/Haldane (Co-League Champs last year with Haldane)

Section Favorite: Toss up

Goals: Get better every time we step on the court.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: Excited to see what we can bring to the table with the

balance of returning players and the young talented sophomores and freshman. It’s been a

fun process so far.

Twitter X/Insta Account: X @CoachJDPVBBall; Insta @ jdapostolico

Noteworthy: PV won its season opener against a tough Saunders team, 66-60. Apostolico led all scorers with 22, Tucker 12 and Moriarty with 12.

 

WESTLAKE WILDCATS

Coach: Chad Charney

2023-24 record: 16-6

Section 1 Tournament Results: Defeated Blind Brook in Quarterfinals, Lost to Woodlands in semifinal at the County Center

Top Returning Players: Brayden Lingeza, Marcus Jackette, Anthony Marziotti

Key Newcomers: Eoin Lynch, Anthony Nigrelli, Luan Celaj, Jayson Aprea

Top Scoring Threats: Jackette, Lingeza

Top Defenders: Lynch, Marziotti, Nick Stratigakis

Best on Boards: Gjorge Krasnici, Celaj, Nigrelli

Team Grunt: Stratigakis

Team Strengths: The team is a very close knit group that can score the basketball.

Needs Work: We are fairly young and will need time to gel defensively. We do not have much height and only four returners including Marzziotti who tore his ACL in January.

League Favorite: Blind Brook

Section Favorite: Byram Hills

Goals: Our goal is to repeat as League Champions

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We have a young team that has some promising features. Jackette and Lingeza will challenge opponents with their experience, Marzziotti will return after injury to point guard and Stratigakis will be a senior leader. After those four, we have a brand new team that has to create a defensive identity.

Twitter X/Insta Account: @westlakehsbasketball

 

CLASS AAA

Just two EX-area teams are in the large-school shuffle, including 16-time sectional champion White Plains (1941-42-51-53-56-57-58-61-63-66-69-84-85-93-94-99), which has had a long dry spell now, and Ossining, which has never won a sectional title, and dismissed longtime Coach Mike Casey, announcing his unforeseen departure just days before the start of the season. White Plains entered the 2024 playoffs as the No.1 seed before falling to No.5 Mount Vernon in the semis.

 

WHITE PLAINS TIGERS
Coach: Spencer Mayfield

2023-24 record: 20-2

Section 1 Tournament Results: Lost in semifinals

Top Returning Players: RJ Marcano, Asa Hamlin, Michael Borella, Jullian Caranante, Judah Goldemberg, Max Friedman

Key Newcomers: Bryce Thomas, Nathan Plummer Jr. Adrian Wallace, Davin Roselle-Plummer, Otto Armstrong, Russell Miller, Jonathan Tuckman, Justin Boateng, Jacob Brown, Christian Boateng

Top Scoring Threats: Marcano, Thomas, Plummer Jr., Wallace

Top Defenders: Thomas, Marcano, Hamlin, Boateng, Marcano

Top Rebounders: Hamlin, Wallace, Plumer

Team Grunt: Goldemberg

Team Strengths: Defensive length, athleticism and rebounding

Needs Work: Offensive connectivity and experience

League Favorite: Fox Lane

Section Favorite: Mt. Vernon

Goals: To compete for league and be a factor in sectional play.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: The Tigers are a talented group that lacks varsity experience after graduating nine seniors. Will be a work in progress until able to gain experience from playing a difficult schedule that should serve us well at playoff time. We are looking to improve each week by playing to our strengths defensively and building continuity offensively. We are an exciting, young team with good seniors to provide leadership and guidance.

Twitter X/Insta Account: X @CoachSMayfield

 

CLASS B

This class features three EX-area teams with quite a bit of championship history, including five-time Section 1 champion Valhalla (1964-81-96-2009-23), five-time champion Briarcliff (1953-89-2007-16-18) and eight-time champion Haldane (1980-99-2001-14-15-16-23-24), which steps up in class this season and never backs down from a challenge.

Valhalla, which has had recent success, including a 2023 sectional title under former Coach Rich Clinchy, will have at it with a third different coach in three years. Stability is always key and the Vikings will turn to first-year Coach Nick Nedwick in the hopes of providing a long-term answer and a shot at challenging for a 2025 Final 4 berth, which saw No.2 Hamilton topple No.3 Dobbs Ferry and No.4 Westlake fall to No.1 Woodlands, the eventual champion, last year.

 

BRIARCLIFF BEARS

Coach: Conor McGuinness

2023-24 record: 5-16

Top Returning Players: Luke Lawler, Luke Murray, Xavier Prekelezaj

Key Newcomers: Devan Sood

Top Scoring Threats: Lawler, Prekelezaj

Top Defenders: Matty Suarez

Best on Boards: Tim Davis, Prekelezaj

Team Grunt: Jordan Celaj, Suarez

Team Strengths: Offense

Needs Work: Defense

League Favorite: Westlake

Section Favorite: Woodlands

Goals: To get better everyday

Twitter X/Insta Account: X- @Briarcliffbball

 

HALDANE BLUE DEVILS

Coach: Joe Virgadamo (19th season, 225-128)

2023-24 record: 21-4

Section 1 Tournament Results: Section 1 Class C Champions, lost in NYSPHSAA finals to Moravia

Top Returning Players: Nate Stickle, Fallou Faye, Luke Bozsik, Zane Del Pozo

Key Newcomers: Ryder Griffin, Connor Keegan, David Powlis, Gavin Drury, Lincoln McCarthy, Andalou Frezza, Anthony Bailey, Mikey Phillips

Top Scoring Threats: It’s going to be a shared attack with everyone on the court.

Top Defenders: As a team, we have been emphasizing deflections and focusing on getting on the floor to create offense.

Best on Boards: Need all five finding bodies or we aren’t going to win games.

Team Grunt: Share the ball, make quick decisions and take care of the guy next to you.

Team Strengths: We have great chemistry, we have a lot of guys that can put the ball into the hoop and we’re excited to get better every day.

Needs Work: We’re getting into the weight room more to put ourselves in a better position to compete in Class B, for the first time in history.

League Favorite: Putnam Valley

Section Favorite: Woodlands, Dobbs Ferry, Blind Brook, Briarcliff

Goals: To compete every night and earn a home sectional game in Class B and to compete for a Class B Gold Ball.

Coach’s Comments/Outlook: We have great leadership and our guys are hungry to get better every night. We are fairly young but our young guys are moving at a great pace and buying into their roles.

Twitter X/Insta Account: Twitter @Haldane_Hoops; Instagram Haldanehoops

 

RAY GALLAGHER/DAVID TABER/ANDY JACOBS/GIL MCMAHON PHOTOS