Hills West Boys Basketball Eliminated by Mt. Vernon

It was billed as probably the most exciting and fast-paced game in the New York State Boys Basketball Tournament.

It lived up to its billing as Mount Vernon defeated Half Hollow Hills West, 69-65, in a Class AA state semifinal game at Glens Falls Civic Center Saturday afternoon.

These teams made it difficult to keep track of the running score,scoring baskets at a furious pitch.

Senior guard Tavon Sledge, headed for Iowa State, stole the show and was all over the court with his quick speed. He delivered 18 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and a steal. And defensively, he went head-to-head with Mount Vernon's "Mr. Basketball," Jabarie Hinds. Emile Blackman took scoring honors with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

Eleven players reached the scoring column for Mount Vernon. Khalid Samuels paved the way with 16 points and four steals. Randy Stephens had 12 points and nine rebounds while Hinds, West Virginia-bound, contributed 10 points.

Hinds picked up his second foul late in the first quarter and sat out the remaining half.

Mount Vernon will eye its ninth state championship when it battles Jamestown, a 61-56 winner over CBA of Albany, at 3:15  p.m. Sunday.

As both coaches admitted after the game, depth was the difference in this game and Mount Vernon had the advantage.

"I was very impressed with Sledge. A great player and a fierce competitor..He's as good a player I've seen.They're (Half Hollows Hills West) a very good team, very fast. I knew it was going to be a war. Our depth, we had more good players on the bench and we wore them down," said Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino.

HH had a 13-12 lead in the first quarter but Mount Vernon came alive and built up a 36-26 advantage at halftime. HH didn't give up and rallied to tie the score, 49-49, heading into the fourth quarter.

Hinds connected twice to give Mount Vernon a 55-53 lead before Chris Kaimis drilled a three-pointer and HH went on top, 56-55.

Mount Vernon responded with a six-point spurt to go ahead, 61-56, and maintained the upper hand the rest of the way.

HH coach Bill Mitaritonna was proud of his team's effort and obviously didn't want to see the season end this way.

"These kids gave it their all. I thank them for recruiting me to coach again. They're so much fun. I challenged them at halftime to come back and fight," he said.

"They had more depth than us. They're loaded, they have kids. As far as Sledge, he's the best player in the state. He wants to win more than anything," concluded Mitaritonna.

Half Hollow Hills West

Sledge 7-3-18, Cox 4-1-9, Rollino 2-0-4, Solomon 1-0-2, Kaimis 2-2-7, E. Blackman 10-4-25.

Totals 26-10-65

Mount Vernon

Cousins 3-2-8, Lovell 1-0-3, Samuels 6-3-16, Ashton 0-1-1, Copeland 1-0-2, Jones 2-0-4, Stephens 5-0-12, Walker 2-0-4, Malheur 0-1-1, Marshall 2-4-8, Hinds 5-0-10.

Totals 27-11-69

Half Hollow Hills West 13  13  23 16 - 65

Mount Vernon 11 25 13  20 - 69

3-point goals: Lovell, Samuels, Stephens 2, Sledge, Kaimis, E. Blackman