by Ryan Mosher
The buildup for the second round of Hoosick Falls and Schuylerville boys basketball started shortly after their first meeting on December 15. The Black Horses edged the defending league champion Panthers 45-44 on a shot with three seconds left in the game. Since then everyone has been eyeing the rematch. After being snowed out once, and Schuylerville falling to Greenwich, the anticipation built even more.
The start of the highly anticipated game was delayed by an exciting JV game that went to overtime before Schuylerville won that one. In the opening quarter, Hoosick Falls struck first, but the Black Horses seemed to have a response for everything. After the visitors took a 6-5 lead, Quinn Rasmus scored back to back baskets for the Panthers to give them a 9-6 lead that they would end the quarter with.
In the opening seconds of the second quarter Rasmus completed a three-point play, followed by an Alex Lilac three-pointer. On the ensuing possession, Randy Tutunjian stole the ball at half court and cruised in for a layup. That play did not sit well with the Schuylerville coach; he drew a technical foul. Lilac connected on one of the two free throws, and a few seconds later Tutunjian scored again. That 11-0 run in the opening minute and a half of the second
quarter seemed to give the Panthers the distance they needed from the Horses. Schuylerville would manage to find the basket in the quarter, including on a shot with three seconds left to bring the score to Hoosick Falls 24, Schuylerville 15.
The Black Horses would not just give up in the second half though. This time Schuylerville did have an answer for everything the Panthers threw at them. Sophomore Shane Lyon led the way for the Horses, scoring 7 points in the quarter and playing tough defense as the visitors came back to a 34-27 score at the end of three quarters.
In the fourth quarter of their first match-up, the Black Horses roared back from a ten point deficit, holding Hoosick Falls to just 4 points in the final frame. This time the lead was just 7 points. Once again Schuylerville seemed to save their best for the final quarter. A trio of three-pointers helped bring them back tonight, along with tough defense and a few untimely errors by the Panthers. Evan Denison scored with 2:12 left to give Schuylerville the 40-39 lead. Lyon then added a bucket to make it 42-39 with 1:35 left. The large crowd in the Hoosick Falls gym got even louder when John Hayden was fouled with :34.9 seconds left. He hit on his second shot to make it 42-40. With :10 left, Mike Vargues hit one of two free throws to make it 43-40. After a Hoosick Falls timeout, Lilac was fouled taking a three-pointer with :03 seconds left. After connecting on the first two, the third and potential game tying free throw bounced out, ending the Panthers’ hopes. The Horses added two more free throws to take the game 45-42.
Quinn Rasmus had 14 points for Hoosick Falls, and Sean Dingman added eight points. Lyon scored 14 for Schuylerville, and Evan Denisoff added 13 points.