Burke Catholic tops Ellenville for Section 9 Class B boys basketball championship
NEWBURGH - This was how sectional title basketball games should always be played.
Top-seeded Ellenville and No. 2 seed John S. Burke Catholic battled bucket for bucket throughout the Section 9 Class B final. There were five ties and seven lead changes but neither club led by more than two possessions until the opening seconds of the final quarter and 45 seconds overall.
Burke got a little breathing room at the end of the third quarter and went on to post a 55-49 win at Mount Saint Mary College on Thursday night.
Ellenville drew within 49-46 with four minutes to play. But that’s when Burke's speedy guard Dylan Demaro scored on a pair of transition buckets for a 53-46 lead with three minutes left. The Blue Devils missed their last four shot attempts and lost the ball once to wrap up matters.
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Player of the game
Burke senior Jack O'Boyle would be the first person to admit he started off the night shooting poorly, hitting just four of 17 shot attempts in the first half. But coach Pat Harris told him to keep shooting. Three shots fell in the third quarter and he finished with 20 points on seven-for-23 shooting, including four 3-pointers.
"He comes around once in a lifetime,'' Harris said of O'Boyle. "I think he's a complete player.''
By the numbers
Burke Catholic (18-4) - Ryan Shust scored 15 points and Dylan Demaro nine. … The Eagles shot 10-for-44 from 2-point range and 8-for-26 beyond the arc. … Despite playing at a pace faster than normal, Burke had only three turnovers.
Ellenville (18-3) - K.J. Jackson scored 24 points but Jason Kinscy was held to nine. Javin McComb and Alen Ibric each had six … The Blue Devils’ only losses came to Class AAA Monroe-Woodbury, MHAL champ Our Lady of Lourdes and Burke. … Ellenville shot 12-for-29 in front of the arc and 7-for-22 beyond. … Ellenville had 13 turnovers.
They said it
"We don't love to live and die by the three, and I felt like that's the shot that we were kind of getting against them. I don't think we did enough around the inside to collapse the (Burke) zone.'' - Ellenville coach Bryan Bonitz
"They were the better team tonight but I'm still proud of my guys.'' - Ellenville senior K.J. Jackson
"Those are the best games, especially when the crowd was into it on both sides. I mean, if that doesn't excite you, you shouldn't be in sports.'' - Burke senior Jack O'Boyle
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Up next
Burke will open state tournament play on Monday at SUNY Dutchess in Poughkeepsie. The 7 p.m. matchup will feature the champion from Section 1.
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Burke beats Ellenville for Section 9-B boys basketball title
