Gaels Defense Lackluster in Loss

SOMERS—With the playoffs approaching quickly – first-round action gets underway February 12 – Kennedy High boys basketball coach Frank Kelly has been working to get his Gaels ready for the challenges that lie ahead, as Kennedy, a B school, will compete in Class A in the sectional tournament.

Kennedy’s Jordan Hardy looks to score as Yorktown defense closes in Friday night at Yorktown. SKIP PEARLMAN SKIP PEARLMAN Kennedy went into Yorktown Friday night, hoping to deliver a message that the Gaels are up to the task of competing with – and beating - larger schools.

Instead, Kennedy’s defense faltered in a 61-55 Yorktown victory.

But the Gaels had their moments. Kennedy went up by four to six points for a stretch in the first half, and cut the deficit to as few as four points in the final minute of play.

Ultimately, it was Yorktown’s 19-11 tear in the third – along with Kennedy’s inability to execute in the game’s final minute - that sealed the deal.

Frankie Kelly of Kennedy skies for two of his 14 in loss at Yorktown Friday. That third quarter ended with the Cornhuskers (6-8) up, 38-33. But a ‘Husker three-pointer opened the fourth, and the deficit was eight.

Yorktown kept the lead at six-to-10 points for most of the fourth. But twice the Gaels managed to trim it to four once when Matt Schoen hit back-toback baskets off turnovers with 5:00 left to make it 45-41, and again with 40 seconds left in the game, after Frankie Kelly netted two free throws to make a 56-52 game.

But things didn’t roll Kennedy’s way over the final 40 seconds, with Yorktown snagging a key rebound, and the Gaels missing when they had a chance to score.

“We had a defensive meltdown,” was how Gaels coach Frank Kelly put it. “They came out and beat us in the third quarter. They hurt us in the halfcourt set… and we got out-rebounded. Defensively, it was a horrible effort.”

Matt Schoen puts up a shot Friday at Yorktown. Schoen finished with 12 points. SKIP PEARLMAN Frankie Kelly’s 14-point effort led Kennedy, Dan Healy and Matt Schoen each had 12, and Conor Donahue tossed in seven, as Kennedy fell to 9-5 overall.

Yorktown got 18 points and 12 rebounds from Jacob Mercado, a stocky presence inside who takes up a lot of space, Chris Schmidt added 15 points —and his height hurt the Gaels on the boards. Jordan Moody also scored 14 for Yorktown.

“That was definitely a statement game for us,” Frankie Kelly said. “We wanted to make a statement—that we can play with them, and that we’re ready for the playoffs. Most of our wins have come against teams in our league… we’re trying to say that we can play with them. And beat them. But Friday our defense was horrible… and we couldn’t get in a rhythm on offense. It was a tough game.”

Kennedy’s Conor Donahue puts up a left-handed shot at Yorktown Friday. SKIP PEARLMAN Kennedy rebounded nicely on Monday, burying an over-matched Dover by forty.

The 76-36 win left JFK at 6-0 in league play. Dover fell to 8-6.

Healy and Kelly each had 15 for Kennedy, Nick Cartaya had 12, and Schoen added eight.

Jaylen LaCourt and Brian Douglas each had seven for Dover.

“We came out and took control early,” Kelly said. “Our defense played well… it was a good overall performance.”

But with the playoffs little more than a week away, Kelly knows his team has work to do.

“We need to get better – defensively and rebounding,” he said. “If we do, we may have a shot. We also need to work on our intensity level. It’s on and off… it needs to be better. And we’re looking for some leadership from our seniors.”

Kennedy hosts Haldane Friday at 7 p.m., and the Gaels are at Dover Monday for a 6:15 p.m. game.