Peekskill is making a comeback and is positioned to add to a prolific basketball legacy

PEEKSKILL – The legacy of a basketball program that distinguished itself at the sectional and state level over the decades hangs heavy on the wall above the bench.

It’s been a long, long time since there was a reason to celebrate.

Peekskill needed two banners to display all the league, sectional, regional and state titles its boys piled up. The Red Devils won five NYSPHSAA championships and between 1995 and 2007, launching the NBA careers of Elton Brand and Hilton Armstrong in the process.

Two years ago, Peekskill went 3-17.

It’s been a decade since the Red Devils last claimed a league title and 15 years since they last captured a Section 1 championship.

There is dust on the prized gold balls in a trophy case just outside the gym doors.

“I’m not going to lie, I don’t know what changed or what happened to the basketball culture we used to have in Peekskill,” said Tyrone Searight, who played at the school under legendary coach Lou Panzanaro and took over the program ahead last season. “Hopefully what we’re doing right now is creating a buzz.  We need to get back to what we were.”

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The Red Devils were 7-13 last season, but there was optimism when the season ended with a close loss to Albertus Magnus in the opening round of sectionals.

“Coach is a competitor,” Peekskill athletic director Austin Goldberg said. “I tried explaining to him there was going to be a transition last year, but he was upset about the slow start. And then midway through, you saw things start to connect. We had a chance to win a playoff game, we were right there, and with 90 percent of that team coming back, everyone felt like it was coming.

“I think after we spent three hours on a bus and beat a good Binghamton team in the second game of the season, they started to understand they were reaching a turning point.”

The Red Devils are suddenly relevant.

Wins over Lakeland and Sleepy Hollow on Friday and Saturday lifted the record to 17-1 with two games to go in the regular season. The league title is within reach. A sectional title is within the realm of possibility, but will require continued improvement along with a couple of good bounces.

“We’re figuring it out as we go along,” said Jaden Chavis, a 6-foot-4 junior guard. “We know these last games, we have to pick it up so we’re ready come playoff time. We have to fix the little mistakes. It’s been a great season and I love the environment here. Peekskill is always going to come out and show support when you’re doing good.

“Honestly, it’s the best thing waking up in the morning knowing I’m playing basketball at Peekskill and knowing we’re bringing it back.”

Back in the day, this gym was routinely filled to capacity.

“I remember when all four sets of bleachers were pulled out,” Searight said. “I used to play tag under the bleachers when I was little and come out when the game was tight at the end. We’re all working to get the community more involved. We need to bring them out and get the culture back.”

The Red Devils are beginning to draw a crowd. The gym is a lively place to be.

Since the last Section 1 championship, there have been a lot of changes in the community. It’s not unusual to see kids playing soccer on playgrounds that were once basketball strongholds.

Winning, though, draws attention.

“The biggest thing for me is getting these kids to the County Center so they can experience that atmosphere,” Searight added. “But we’ve set small goals and the first thing is winning a league title. If we can do that, it will put us in line to get where we want to go.”

Chavis is built to be a headliner, but the Red Devils needed more depth to play with the Class AA favorites. Ezekiel Jones came home from Cardinal Hayes and provided exactly that. The 6-foot-3 swingman is completely at ease in the spotlight.

Not many teams match up with this pair.

“I’m aware of what Peekskill used to be,” Jones said. “The guy who trained me, he always used to speak to us about the past here and let us know that when we were in high school, we needed to bring it back. And now I’m here with Jaden, we’re a pretty good 1-2 punch, so I feel like this is our year. I feel like it’s a new group, a new generation. We want to win. We’re coming for it and we’re knocking teams out one by one as they come.”

Panzanaro, who retired from coaching in 2014 with 576 wins and five state titles, stopped in for a visit recently when the Red Devils were playing rival Hen Hud.

He used to be a household name in this neck of the woods.

“It’s so funny,” said Searight, who’s got fellow Peekskill alums Daquan Brickhouse and Jayme Gooding on staff. “Not one of them knew who Coach P is. It was like, ‘Who?’ We had to tell them how it used to be around here, what it was like playing at the County Center or going up to Glens Falls for states.”

There are four experienced players in the rotation with Chavis and Jones who do the detail work and elevate the Red Devils to contenders – Amir Thames, Travis Brown, Marquette Webster and Isaiah Crawford.

If they continue to play with the level of enthusiasm that’s already been established and help put a few points on the board, this team might add to the legacy.

“This is really important to us,” Chavis said. “We know about Hilton Armstrong, Mookie Jones and Elton Brand. We’re trying to be the up-and-comers and show the younger kids what’s possible if you do the work.”

Mike Dougherty covers high school basketball for The Journal News and lohud.com. Follow along on X/Twitter @lohudhoopsmbd or Instagram @hoopsmbdlohud.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Peekskill NY boys basketball is playing for titles after long slump