Pearl River Boys Hoops Wins Big Against Rival Tappan Zee

Pearl River senior Kevin Degnan reminded his teammates that rival Tappan Zee had won the last five games against the Pirates before the teams faced off Thursday at Pearl River.

"I put it on the board, 0-5," Degnan said. "We wanted this game more than them."

The Pirates showed it early, jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter, and never let up on the way to a 60-37 victory.

"I thought we came out with fire," Degnan said. "We played great defense. We really wanted th is game."

Pearl River Head Coach Jerry Houston, Jr. said his team needed a more complete effort to get over the hump against a top contender like Tappan Zee (11-3), something they did to improve their record to 9-4.

"We had lost to good teams, but we knew more good teams were coming," Houston said. "Certainly, Tappan Zee is more than a good team. In order for us to win, we had to put together a complete game and tonight we put together a complete effort."

Degnan scored the first points of the game with a 3-point shot, but that was all scored as the Pirates built a 21-8 lead after one period using a balanced offense. They closed out the quarter with a 16-3 run.

"I think we played very hard defensively," Houston said. "I think, also, they didn't shoot the ball particularly well. I'd like to think we had a little something to do with that, but they had shots they are capable of making and they didn't fall. It was a snowball type effect. We got going emotionally and we were able to sustain it. That's not easy."

Pearl River extended its lead to as many as 21 points in the second quarter. Tappan Zee cut the advantage to as few as 11 in the third quarter, but could get no closer.

"We knew they would come back with a run in the second half and they did," Degnan said. "I thought it was great how we managed it."

"That was key. It seemed like when they did make a run, we were able to respond positively," Houston said.

Degnan made some key shots to stop runs by Tappan Zee. He finished with a game-high 22 points to go with 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. He had plenty of help on the offensive end, with James Linnane and Thomas Armour each scoring 12 points.

"We know going into games, he's going to be the focal point of most defenses," Houston said. "Tonight, what was nice is we kind of spread the scoring out. In the first quarter, all five of our starters scored. That takes a little bit of heat off. Kevin made some very big shots."
Linnane, who battled foul trouble late, also pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds.

"He played terrific," Houston said. "He gave us great effort. He always does that. He's always on the boards. Tonight he had 12 points. That's a huge night for Jimmy. He looked to the basket. It' a confidence thing. You get a couple of baskets early and you feel better about yourself."

Junior Luke McLaughlin led Tappan Zee with 14 points. Degnan defended him most of the first half, when he had only five points.

"Luke is a tremendous player," Houston said. "It's a big challenge going up against a player of that capability. Kevin did a pretty good job defending him, or at least making him work for the points he did get."

Pearl River's next game is noon Saturday at home against Rye Neck. The second meeting with Tappan Zee is 6 p.m. Feb. 3 at Tappan Zee, a make-up of a game that was cancelled due to a ruptured gas line on Dutch Hill Road Jan. 8.