by Gary Danforth
Six foot, six inch senior center/forward Kevin McMahon of Hoosick Falls Central School scored a game high fifteen points last Thursday evening, February 25, in the Panthers’ 55-28 Class C, Section II opening round win over the Waterford-Halfmoon Fordians. McMahon scored his 1000th career point in Hoosick Falls’ last home game of the season which saw HFCS raise its record to 16-3 on the year. Mike Lilac Jr.’s Panthers won their second consecutive WASAREN League championship during the 2009-10 year with the Panthers going 13-1 in league play. Ironically, Waterford had been a participant in the Hoosier Holiday Basketball Tourney in December, 2009, with HFCS winning the event and McMahon being named MVP. McMahon is the reigning MVP of the WASAREN League and a strong candidate to take home the same honor for the 2009-10 season.
HFCS broke out to leads of 12-10 and 27-16 at the first two quarter breaks. Then the Panthers outscored the visitors 17-8 in period three to take a commanding 44-24 lead while walking away to their 55-28 win.
McMahon got ample support from Tanner Williams with 14 points, Alex Lilac, 10, Quinn Rasmus, 6, John Hayden, 4, Hutton Rasmus, 4, and Sean Dingman with 2 points. Paul Dubrey with 14 points led the Fordian effort.
Rebounding from Afar: Defense wins championships and holding Waterford to 28 points was a good way to start a successful sectional run. You’ve got to be able to score against opposing defenses, and sharing the ball, making every player on the court at the same time a threat to score, is the way to get that accomplished.