By Lori Brown
FALLSBURG — January 26, 2010 — Thursday night’s non-league basketball game between the visiting Roscoe Blue Devils and Fallsburg Comets started out evenly matched until halfway through the first quarter when Fallsburg went on a 17- point scoring run.
The Comets proceeded to record a 79-47 victory over the Blue Devils.
Rakkir Watson had seven points and Danny Seletsky and Kuawan Turner each scored six points to help Fallsburg (8-5) take a 24-8 lead in the opening eight minutes of play.
The Comets continued to control the game with their pressure defense in the second period.
But Roscoe (1-11) gained some points at the free-throw line. Junior guard Adam Hendrix went 4 of 5 at the line to keep his team in the game.
Senior guard Nate Brock made a 3-pointer with a few minutes left in the quarter.
But Fallsburg held a 46-20 advantage at halftime.
The Blue Devils had a great third quarter as they almost doubled their first half total by earning 16 points. Brock made a pair of 3-point shots in the quarter.
However, Watson made a 3- pointer of his own and added another basket to help the Comets keep their lead.
Fallsburg scored seven points in the first minute of the fourth period. Roscoe, which made 7 of its 11 free throws in the stanza, never gave up and played tough defense in the last two minutes to prevent the Comets from scoring any more points.
Seletsky led the balanced Comets’ offense with 14 points. Watson and Dustin Foertsch each recorded 12 points. Turner and Zach Ingber added 11 points apiece.
“We came out and played well, we were focused,” Fallsburg Coach Pete Dworetsky said. “We had tough games against Port Jervis, Chapel Field and S.S. Seward and broke down. Tonight we did well in all aspects of the game.”
“We improved on help defense and for the most part I am happy with our offense,” he added. “We shared the ball on offense.”
Dworetsky praised several players in particular.
“Freshman Rakkir Watson was pulled up from JV and did a great job,” Dworetsky said. “Senior Zach Ingber scored 11 points, which was nice to see, and had a great night. Danny Seletsky worked hard also. Michael Robinson worked hard and contributed great rebounds.”
Dworetsky also praised the Blue Devils.
“I am happy with Roscoe’s effort, they worked hard,” he said.
The Comets’ next game will be this Friday, Jan. 29 when they host the Liberty Indians in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV contest.
“We have four league games to finish the regular season,” Dworetsky said. “We are still looking for nine, we are not stopping at our goal of nine wins. We are getting on a roll and intend on finishing [the regular season] well.”
Hendrix scored a game-high 20 points and Brock had 13 points.
“I am proud of all six players because they kept playing,” Roscoe Coach Fred Ahart said. “They played right to the finish.  Our team attitude was great.
“I am impressed with Fallsburg,” he continued. “They have talent. They had a good start with pressure defense. They set the tone of the game and created their pace. They deserve credit.”
The Blue Devils return to the court at 7:30 p.m. this Friday to host the Chester Hambletonians in a Coaches vs. Cancer game at Roscoe Central School. In addition, the Chester Lady Hambletonians and Roscoe Lady Blue Devils will play a Coaches vs. Cancer game at 6 p.m.
“The school and community have chipped in to assist,” Ahart said.
Among those helping in this fundraising event are Roscoe Lady Blue Devils’ Coach Becky Ahart, Cancer Survivor Jackie France and the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY).