Moshier: J-D's Red Rams roll on

After his Jamesville-DeWitt boys basketball team had successfully defended its Class A state title with a 77-75 overtime win over Peekskill on Sunday, J-D coach Bob McKenney told the Glens Falls Post-Star what everybody back in Section III already knows.

 

“People are worried about when Brandon (Triche) leaves,” McKenney said. “But next year, when we turn the basketball team over to him, I’m thinking we’re going to be OK.”

 

“OK” would be understating it.

 

The “him” McKenney was referring to is junior guard Lamar Kearse, who Sunday scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while at the same time playing some game-saving man-to-man defense on Peekskill’s talented point guard, DaQuan Brickhouse. And another J-D underclassman, 6-foot-8 freshman center Dajuan Coleman, had 18 points and 18 rebounds in the title game.

 

Syracuse University recruit Brandon Triche was still named Tournament MVP despite foul trouble and only 12 points – half his average – and another J-D senior, guard Alshwan Hymes, scored 21 points. The plays made by Kearse and Coleman, however, were the primary reasons why the Red Rams repeated, and their return next season means J-D will be more than “OK” in 2009-10.

 

During this championship weekend at the Glens Falls Civic Center, Jamesville-DeWitt (26-1) and Peekskill (24-2) were so good, either one of them probably would have won the Class AA final. Newburgh Free Academy (21-4) won that one, 62-42 over previously-undefeated and top-ranked Niagara Falls (24-1).

 

Section III’s Class AA champion, Christian Brothers Academy (21-5), lost to Niagara Falls 59-49 in the semifinals. Stefan Thompson led the Brothers with 18 points.

 

Another Section III champ, Onondaga (17-10), lost to Section II champ Maple Hill 77-51 in the Class C semifinals.

 

In Class D, the South Kortright team that ended Section III champ New York Mills’ season in the regionals capped a perfect 26-0 season in style. After disposing of Chateaugay 48-38 in the semifinals, the Rams got 15 points from Rashawn Herrington and edged Greenport 47-43 for their first state championship.

 

Greenport, from Long Island, had rallied for a 73-68, double-overtime victory over state-ranked No. 1 Maple Grove in Friday’s Class D semifinals. A year ago, Maple Grove ended West Canada Valley’s season in the semifinals and then captured the Class C state championship.