Girls basketball: Red Hook tops defending state champ Millbrook in marquee matchup

There was a sequence in which an unfavorable switch resulted in Katie Boyd guarding the opposing center, a mismatch to be sure, against a superstar who happens to be nine inches taller.

But that meant little to Boyd, who signaled to teammates that she would handle the assignment. The feisty point guard then proceeded to dig in defensively, confident in her ability to match the physicality.

That possession wasn't pivotal to this game, but it illustrated the mindset Boyd maintains, and one that Red Hook girls basketball coach Matt Hayes hopes will permeate the team.

“She's not gonna light up the stat sheet on most nights, but she's about winning,” Hayes said of the senior. “She's not into individual stats, but she's competitive and a leader.”

Boyd also sets the tone and is crucial to their perimeter defense as the Raiders this season have gone away from zone, making man-to-man their signature. That scheme, and their execution of it, has helped the team secure wins over two brand-name opponents thus far.

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Emilie Kent had 21 points, three blocks and three steals for Red Hook in a 51-41 win over Millbrook on Thursday, the Raiders avenging lopsided losses last season to the two-time defending Class C state champion.

“It feels good to get a win against a team like Millbrook,” Hayes said. “I’ve known (coach) Adam Peek for about 40 years and he's been one of the best coaches in the area for a long time, and Natalie Fox is obviously one of the best players in the state. That’s not an easy team to beat.”

Neither are the Raiders. They had five players hit at least one 3-pointer, and the group demonstrated its collective intensity with pressure defense.

Boyd had 12 points, six assists and three steals, and Chloe Hayes made two threes. Liv Christensen also excelled beyond the scoring column, registering a plus-17 in the box score. The guard had three points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Freshman Elenna Magee was productive off the bench.

Fox had 33 points and 11 rebounds to lead Millbrook (1-1). She “earned those points,” Hayes said of the William & Mary commit, who operated against constant double and occasional triple teams.

The Blazers graduated several key players after winning a third state title since 2018 and Fox, a 6-foot-3 senior, is the only returning starter. She will be the focus of opposing defenses as this young roster develops.

This game was the opener of a basketball doubleheader that Red Hook High School hosted. Its boys team defeated Millbrook, 80-49, as Kevin Cayea notched his first win as varsity head coach after taking over for Matt Hayes.

The girls team returned the bulk of its core after winning a second straight Section 9 Class B championship, but the team has undergone schematic changes under Hayes, who succeeded Andrew Makebish. The former longtime boys basketball coach began implementing the defense during the summer and, he said, the players are adjusting well.

“We only have 10 on the roster, so we need everyone to contribute,” said Hayes, whose team began its season Monday with a 44-37 win over Section 1’s Arlington.

It helps, of course, that Kent is steadily improving. The 6-foot-1 forward starred last winter and there is belief that the junior has potential for much more.

“There has been growth in her game,” Hayes said. “She's gotten better at finishing at the rim through contact and her outside shot has been more consistent. She’s also very unselfish; quick to pass out of a double team.”

The Raiders are competing this season in Class A after the addition of a sixth class last summer prompted a realignment. Red Hook now is one of the smaller schools in that classification, but this team still is expected to contend.

“We know there are some talented Class A teams and there’ll be teams looking to knock off a defending champ, so we have to be ready for those challenges,” said Hayes, whose non-league schedule includes three Class AAA opponents. “Everything we're doing is in preparation to compete for the league and go after the section title.”

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Girls basketball: Boyd, Kent help Red Hook top state champ Millbrook