Marlboro, Pine Plains win MHAL boys basketball semifinals (updated) (video)

STONE RIDGE, N.Y. — The anticipated boys basketball final between Pine Plains High and defending champion Red Hook will not come to pass 8 p.m. Friday in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League title game.

Once-beaten Pine Plains held up its end of the bargain with Wednesday night’s 61-41 semifinal conquest of Millbrook. In the first semifinal, however, Marlboro upset Red Hook, 67-65.



The Raiders (14-3) appeared to have momentum coming into the postseason thanks to a 62-41 triumph Saturday over the previously unbeaten Bombers (16-1). Red Hook fell into a 17-point hole against the Dukes (13-4) and came up short at the final buzzer.

Friday’s championship contest at Ulster County Community College will be the first meeting between Marlboro and Pine Plains.

New 1,000-point scorer Rob Lamont of the Bombers had mixed feelings about not facing Red Hook again.

“It is and it isn’t (a letdown),” Lamont said. “It feels good someone stepped up and beat them.

“On the other hand, we wanted to play them in a rematch. Either way, we’re going to the championship game.”

Lamont sank a foul shot with 2:47 left in the fourth quarter to reach the 1,000-point career milestone. He will be presented a ball to commemorate the feat, when Pine Plains plays a home game in the Section 9, Class C playoffs.

The defending sectional champion Bombers are a lock to receive the No. 1 seed.

“It’s so exciting,” Lamont said of notching 1,000 points. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since my freshman year.

“I didn’t really think I’d get it then. As the years progressed, it became one of my top goals.

“It just feels awesome.”

Lamont entered the game needing 16 points. He finished with 18 and stands at 1,002.

“I’m very proud of Rob,” coach Brendan LoBrutto said. “He deserves it.

“He’s a great kid and a hard worker.”

Pine Plains made a 16-2 spurt in the final 4:17 of the first quarter to lead Millbrook, 22-10. By haltime, the Bombers were in control with a 39-22 advantage.

“We definitely had streaks where we played real well,” LoBrutto said. “Other times, we struggled.

“We have a lot of work to do to get ready for a talented Marlboro team. We had a good scrimmage with them before the season started.”

Other standouts against the Blazers (8-9) were Justin Cooper (21 points) and Tyler Lydon (17 points).

Tyler Dahlin (20 points) and Dan Blayney (14 points) paced Millbrook.

With 31.2 seconds left, Devon Jackson of the Blazers was hit in the throat. Emergency medical technicians did not want to move Jackson until an ambulance arrived.

After a 20-minute wait, the teams and officials decided not to finish the game.

PINE PLAINS (61) — Lamont 5 8-8 18, Cooper 8 4-4 21, Z. Lydon 1 1-2 3, Miller 1 0-0 2, T. Lydon 6 2-2 17, Nicholich 0 0-0 0, Michaels 0 0-0 0, Evans 0 0-0 0, Harpp 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 15-16 61.

MILLBROOK (41) — Blayney 4 6-8 14, Camaj 0 0-0 0, Dahlin 6 5-8 20, Jackson 2 0-0 5, Nelson 0 0-0 0, Simmons 0 0-2 0, Kelly 1 0-0 2, Harkenrider 0 0-0 0, Rudy 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 11-18 41.

Pine Plains 22 17 12 10—61

Millbrook 10 12 10 9—41

3-point field goals: T. Lydon 3, Cooper; Dahlin 3, Jackson.

Team records: Pine Plains 16-1; Millbrook 8-9.

Marlboro 67

Red Hook 65

It was the first time a Dukes team coached by Mike Koehler had defeated the Raiders.

“I’ve been coaching seven years, so I figure I’m 1-13 against Red Hook now,” Koehler said. “You see how great a coach Rod Chando is with how they were 17 down and got right back in the game.

“My kids hung in there. Shock set in for a second, then we made a couple of big plays in the fourth quarter.”

Austin Beck (15 points) capped a 9-0 run by Marlboro on a put back for a 52-35 lead with 1:25 left in the third period.

Defeating the Raiders has been a frequent topic of conversation for Dukes players all season.

“We talked about it every day,” Beck said. “Beating them means we’re becoming a better team.

“We played a little sloppy against them in the first game. We’ve gotten better as a team and closer as a family.”

Alex Smith paced Marlboro with 16 points, while Mike Tamburri and Ryan Cary had 11 points apiece.

Red Hook pulled within a point three times, as Joe Stortini (22 points) and Yegor Stjupan (17 points) sparked the rally.

Stortini missed a 10-foot shot just before the buzzer that could have sent the game into overtime.

“This time of the year is about survival,” Koehler said. “That’s what we did.”

Now Marlboro needs another upset to claim the MHAL crown.

“Pine Plains has tremendous height and their big kids can shoot,” Koehler said.

RED HOOK (65) — Stortini 6 8-11 22, Wright 2 0-2 4, N. Parr 0 0-0 0, Michitsch 2 3-4 7, Stjupan 8 1-2 17, Rogers 2 0-0 5, Wright 1 0-2 4, P. Parr 0 0-0 0, Pitcher 0 0-0 0, Tator 5 0-1 10, Insogna 0 0-0 0, Coleman 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 12-20 65.

MARLBORO (67) — Mi. Tamburri 4 2-4 11, Cary 3 4-8 11, Beck 4 7-11 15, Ma. Tamburri 1 0-3 2, Smith 6 3-6 16, Orszewski 2 0-0 6, Sakedelis 1 0-0 3, Musacchio 1 1-2 3. Totals 22 17-34 67.

Red Hook 11 18 14 22—65

Marlboro 12 22 18 15—67

3-point field goals: Stortini 2, Rogers; Orszewski 2, Mi. Tamburri, Cary, Smith, Sakedelis.

Team records: Marlboro 13-4; Red Hook 14-3.