NYCHoops.net - Hoops for a Cure Classic

January 12, 2013

Mike Libert
NYCHoops.net Staff Writer

BRONX, NY - Saturday saw a full slate of games at the Monroe Athletic Complex, the home court of Monroe College, for the Hoops for a Cure Classic.

Each of the games had interesting storylines going in, with New Rochelle taking on Middletown in the nightcap in a game that was thought to be a matchup of two Westchester powers.

Would the games live up to the hype? We were on hand on Saturday to find out.

New Rochelle 83- Middletown 47

In the main event at the Hoops for a Cure Classic, New Rochelle broke open the game in the 2nd quarter and behind the 23 points of Joe Clarke, dominated the shorthanded Bears of Middletown 83-47.

Middletown was without the services of high scoring shooting guard Aaron Ray who injured his finger yesterday and was out of action for the contest. His presence was clearly missed on the court as New Rochelle got out in transition and were scoring at will, while Middletown struggled shooting from the perimeter all game long, shooting 32% as a team for the game.

Clarke was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court as the Huguenots, though clearly the smaller team, proved to be the tougher, grittier team and outrebounded the Bears 38-36 in the game.

New Rochelle outscored Middletown 31-14 in the 2nd quarter and shot 52% from the floor for the game to completely dominated one of Section 9's best.

Poughkeepsie 52- White Plains 38

In a game that lacked rhythm for almost all 32 minutes, Poughkeepsie picked up the 52-38 win behind the 25 points of Jahleel Carter. Neither team shot the ball well, and with a 21-13 halftime score, you knew that things were going to have to change for both teams in the 2nd half.

The Pioneers did come out strong in the 3rd with a full court trap that led to 7 turnovers to the quarter as Poughkeepsie outscored White Plains 22-10 in the 3rd to basically put the game away.

"There was no flow early on, but Jahleel was able to control the pace of the game, especially in the 3rd quarter their and against a hard nosed White Plains team that is extremely well coached, I am happy with the win." Poughkeepsie coach Brian Laffin said after the win.

Eastchester 73- Saunders 52

Eastchester got out to a quick start behind the strong shooting of Michael Milo, and the excellent court vision of Jack Daly and never looked back as they took down Saunders in Game 1 of the Hoops for a Cure Classic in New Rochelle 73-52.

Saunders never found a rhythm offensively due in part to the stifling 2-2-1 press that the Eagles applied for much of the game, and struggled getting out defensively against the quick transition offense of the Eagles. Eastchester got up by as much as 27 in the 4th quarter, and even though undersized against the Blue Devils, the quick pace and the 53% shooting from behind the arc helped the Eagles roll.