Gaels Hold Off Indians’ Frantic Comeback

SOMERS—A hustling Kennedy Catholic boys basketball team put the pressure on early, and applied it often Saturday night, holding off a never-say-die Mahopac squad and walking off the court with a sigh of relief after hanging on for a 62-57 victory at Kennedy High School.

Kevin Carey of Mahopac takes a hit as he goes to the basket. SKIP PEARLMAN The Gaels, making their season debut, out-hustled and out-worked Mahopac throughout the first half—and for much of the game, diving for loose balls, pressing full-court at every opportunity, and taking advantage of most of the mistakes they forced the Indians to make.

But Mahopac would not go away.

Kennedy led for virtually the entire game, and two minutes into the fourth the Gaels pushed the lead to 14 (52-38).

But Mahopac’s defense stiffened and forced a few consecutive stops, and the Indians took advantage on the offensive end. The ‘Pac cut the deficit to 52-47 with 3:42 left, then made it a three-point game with 3:10 showing.

Kennedy’s Joe Smith soars to the basket in JFK win over Mahopac Saturday night. Smith finished with 15 points and four steals. SKIP PEARLMAN But Kennedy’s Matt Schoen brought the drought to a close for the Gaels with a basket that pushed the lead back to five (54-49).

Mahopac’s Ryan Wagner dropped in a pretty, diving teardrop shot with 58 seconds to bring the Indians to within three again (56-53). Just one second later Mahopac fouled Kennedy’s Ryan Hickey, who dropped in both free throws to push the lead to 58-53.

Wagner hit a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left to make it 58-55, and the Indians caught a break when JFK turned the ball over trying to get it inbounds. With 20 seconds left, Mahopac’s Kenny Parker found TJ Foley with a great drop-off pass under the hoop, and Foley converted to make it a 58-57 game—the closest Mahopac had been all game.

But Kennedy’s Dan Healy kept the Gaels’ hot streak at the line alive by dropping in two more with 17 seconds to recapture the three-point lead. Parker had a chance to tie it with four seconds left, but his three-point attempt would not drop. Hickey then delivered two more free throws for the final margin.

“We couldn’t put them away,” Kennedy coach Frank Kelly said. “We were up 14 … we gave away a couple of three’s and it started slipping away. We felt the inexperience from our guys. At halftime we talked about composure, and we held on. It was a good win.”

Youth was also a factor for Mahopac. One bright spot for Mahopac (1-2) was the play of Wagner, who finished with a game-high 25 points.

“Ryan Wagner pretty much put us on his back,” Downes said. “I think he definitely found his stride.”

Kennedy’s Ryan Hickey drives to the basket Saturday night against Mahopac. But it was the Gaels’ clutch performance from the stripe in the fourth quarter that secured this win. The Gaels went 8-for-8 in the final 1:21 of the game, and scored nine of their 17 fourth-quarter points from the line.

“We got some clutch free throw shooting in the fourth,” Kelly said. “Hickey and Healy both were clutch in the fourth quarter. Both of them are juniors with no varsity experience.”

Healy led Kennedy with 18 points and five rebounds, and Joe Smith, who the Indians were unable to keep out of the paint, added 15 points and four steals. Hickey finished with nine points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, Schoen had eight points, and Nick Cartaya chipped in with seven.

Kennedy’s Jordan Hardy is sandwiched by two defenders. Smith regularly penetrated Mahopac’s defense and made a number of circus-type shots, showing some impressive air time as well.

“Smith, Healy, and Hickey were big for us,” Kelly said. “Smith showed us how to compete. He had a very good game, and is probably the reason we won. He held us together.”

Kelly liked his team’s defensive effort— until the fourth. “Our defense was okay, until the fourth quarter,” he said. “We held them for three quarters … and the key was our composure down the stretch, and knocking down those free throws. But we have a lot to work on.”

Kevin Mallon, a junior guard, added eight points for Mahopac. Senior forward Chase Thompson led the team in rebounds with seven, and Wagner led in assists with three.

Mahopac also lost to Arlington ,63- 54, in a non-league game on Dec. 9, after winning the season opener at home by a score of 59-43 over Roy C. Ketcham High School two days earlier. All three games were non-league.

Mahopac’s Ryan Wagner scores on breakaway. In the Tribe’s loss to Arlington on the road, Mallon led the team in scoring with 15 points and Thompson had 11. Senior center Eric LoPata led in rebounds with 12, while Wagner collected six and Thompson five. Wagner also led in assists with two.

Once again, the team had a chance to win, despite falling behind early.

“We played a bad second quarter. We just could not find the basket,” Downes said, adding that he thought his team played well after that.

However, a team has to play a complete game to win. “You need to play four good quarters,” Downes said.

The coach acknowledged the solid game that Mallon had that night, pointing out that although the he led the team in scoring, he also played a great allaround game. “He played great defense coming off the bench. He was a big spark for us,” Downes said.

In the season-opening, home win against Ketcham, the scoring was spread out for the Indians. Wagner and junior guard Anthony Annunziata led the team in scoring with 11 points each. Mallon added nine points and Thompson had eight.

LoPata led the team in rebounds with nine and Thompson had five. Annunziata led in assists with three.

Downes said it was nice to get the season off to a great start.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” he said. “I thought the kids played pretty well. You can see the potential of what this team could be,” he said. “It was important for them not to just get a win but play well.”

Downes was pleased that the Indians only turned the ball over seven times and that his players took good shots. “We had great shot selection,” he said.

The Indians are scheduled to play John Jay-East Fishkill at home tonight (Thursday) at 6pm and Clark Academy on the road on Tuesday at 4:15pm Both are non-league games.