By Laura Stabbert
MONTICELLO — January 15, 2010 — Monticello hosted Washingtonville in a non-league game Wednesday night in the Monticello High School gymnasium, which is known as “The Pit.”
The two teams appeared evenly matched, with Washingtonville ahead 33-30 at the half, but the Wizards gained momentum in the fourth quarter to beat the Panthers, 73-57.
“After the half we came out in a three-quarter court zone trap which caused confusion and opened things up,” said Washingtonville Coach Todd Rose.
“It’s easier for the team with the lead to play looser,” he added.
Monticello (4-7) took an early lead as Kenny Sanders Jr. made a hook shot and Juan Pena had a strong drive to the basket to give the home team an early four-point advantage. But both teams continued to score and at the end of the first quarter the game was tied at 17-17.
The second quarter was also evenly matched. Chandler Williams connected with the basket to put the Panthers ahead 27-23 and teammate Frank Small was fouled and made both free throws, making the score 29-23.
Washingtonville (3-8) then went on an eight-point run to move ahead 31-29.
With eight seconds remaining in the half, Williams was fouled and made one of his two free throws.
But before the quarter ended Washingtonville’s Jared Sarcka scored to make it a 33-30 game at the half.
During halftime, Rose and Monticello Coach Chris Russo, who both were coaching the game barefoot, explained to the crowd how they could support Samaritan’s Feet. Samaritan’s Feet is a non-profit humanitarian relief organization dedicated to equipping the feet of impoverished children in the U.S. and around the world with shoes and the organization has already donated over 2.5 million shoes.
Players from both teams maintained the same level of intensity at the start of the third period.
Monticello’s Jesse Kapito swished a 3-pointer to tie the game at 33-33.
With just under five minutes to play, Washingtonville’s P.J. Sanchez made a 3-pointer to again even the score, this time at 41-41. As the quarter went on the Wizards continued to score, taking a 50-44 advantage going into the final quarter.
Justin Rabsatt dunked early in the period, which gave Washingtonville a 10-point lead, creating the biggest margin the game had seen until that moment.
The Panthers continued to work hard on the court but could not catch the Wizards.
“Everybody brings their own strengths, we attack the basket very well,” Russo said.
“We want to make sectionals,” he added. “We have some selfishness, we have to eliminate that and get back to [a] .500 [record].”
Reaching double digits were Washingtonville’s Mike Strauss with 23 points, Rabsatt with 14 points and Alex Hayes with 13 points.
For Monticello, Sanders Jr. had 18 points and Kapito finished with 14 points.