Local basketball teams await full schedules, full gyms

By Mike Zummo
Posted 12/1/21

Basketball is back at area high schools.

Well, it never went anywhere, but the 2021-22 season was highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The teams played 8-game schedules in a highly …

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Local basketball teams await full schedules, full gyms

Posted

Basketball is back at area high schools.

Well, it never went anywhere, but the 2021-22 season was highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The teams played 8-game schedules in a highly condensed and abbreviated 2021 season back in February, and local teams had mixed results. The Valley Central Vikings had a .500 record, while the Wallkill Panthers suffered only a single loss.

The Pine Bush Bushmen graduated two seniors from last year’s team – Bryce Boddie and Tim Linton - and also expect to return players from last year’s abbreviated season.

Teams took to the floor for the first time on Nov. 15 as they head into a more normal season, featuring games played on a regular schedule and the return of the Section 9 and New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships.

The Panthers return a wealth of talent, including Mat Shea, who is approaching his 1,000th point.

Despite losing Brian Cross and Anthony Scarano, Shea will be backed by Kyle Krebs, Jeremy Figueroa, Jack Rauschenbach, R.J. Taylor, Ty Crowley and Eric Blackshear.

That gives coach Hunter Andrews confidence the Panthers will be able to compete for not only a Mid-Hudson Athletic League championship, but also a Section 9 championship.

The Panthers also will add Sean Perrin and Mason Ondreyko to the mix.

“We have a very experienced team returning this year,” Andrews said. “Mat and Kyle are four-year varsity starters in their senior year. We are excited and blessed to be back on the court this season in a greater capacity with a hardworking group of young men.”

The Valley Central Vikings will be led by youth as junior Raysean Johnson has 498 points through his freshman and sophomore years. And one of those years only had six games, putting Johnson on track to reach 1,000 points before he graduates.

He averaged 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals per game.

“Raysean Johnson is the best two-way player VC has had in a few years,” Valley Central coach Frank Nutt said. “He is a lockdown defender and offensively he can shoot, attack and finish at a high level.”

Nutt is also in his second year coaching the Vikings and this would be his first normal season at the helm.
Assisting Johnson in the backcourt will be Jurrell Taylor, who averaged nine points, and two steals, and Nutt said they will be the engine the Vikings will run on. They will also be the Vikings’ two main scoring options.

Henri Pothier will bring size and shooting to the starting lineup. Nick Demaris also is returning, and Nutt said he will, and he along with newcomers Rubin Sims and Javen Griffith, will bring size and toughness to the team.

“(Johnson and Taylor) are looking to create for others as well as create a dynamic pair that will make it hard to defend VC,” Nutt said.

Information requests sent to Pine Bush were not returned by press time.