WON FOR THE RECORD BOOKS-MARAUDERS CONTINUE TO MASTER MARCH
New York Mills fans have plenty to smile about!
Fred Miller-MHTS
Photos-Kevin Montano
Something about the month of March that seems to bring out the best in the New York Mills Marauders boys basketball team (19-3).
Looks like faithful fans and hoops junkies are ready to hop on the New York Mills Express as the train leaves the station, destination states.
The story lines that were all woven together into a nice, neat blue and orange tapestry on Jim Boeheim court at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse were too numerous for even a die-hard Marauders fan to conjure up prior to tip-off against the Class D tourney # 4 seed the Cincinnatus Red Lions (16-4).
This was supposed to be a closer contest pitting two state ranked teams against one another in Syracuse. New York Mills ranked eighth and Cincinnatus ranked eleventh.
Nick Comenale # 20 and Zach Vennaro #40 teamed up to combine for 36 of the marauders points,
The latest Class D team to end up in the belly of the basketball beasts from Beekman!
When the Marauders wrapped up their business-like 60-35 win over the overwhelmed and undermanned Lions a buzz started to circulate around the building.
A buzz about the performance of junior, sharpshooter Nick Comenale who pumped in 11 of his 20 points in the first quarter to start to suck the wind from the Lions sails.
Six of those rapid fire points came on two long-range three balls, one of which ended up being a four point play when Nick was fouled in the act.
Comenale has really upped his game, when it counts most, having entered play this afternoon averaging 24.3 points per game.
Comenale was hot early and Zach Vennaro was hot late scoring 12 of his 16 points in the second half as the Mills breezed past Cincinnatus and earned a Regional matchup against Marathon from Section IV in Oneonta next Saturday night.
Vennaro, a junior himself, can be a key player for the Mills as the competition gets tougher each time out. Imagine Comenale and Vennaro teaming up with Cody Mariotti and Jake Kehrli when they are all on the same page…imagine.
Despite the red-hot start by Comenale the Marauders led by just five, 20-15, after one quarter of action.
Shea Feehan, the Lions leading scorer averaging 11 points per game, scored five quick points and ended up with a team high 13 points to keep the Center Counties League team close after one.
Despite the hot hand the Mills played early they led by Just eight, 31-23 at the break.
# 34 Cody Mariotti goes up for two as Red Lions defend.
Speaking of breaks…New York Mills started to break this one open when Vennaro started his second half surge with four quick points and was joined in the fun by Cody Marriotti who netted two of his nine to put the Lions on notice.
D.J. Kirilko was solid again for New York Mills scoring eight points.
New York Mills outscored Cincinnatus 18-9 in the third to lead 49-32.
Game, set, match as it was more of the same in the fourth with New York Mills outscoring Cincinnatus 11-3 to wrap up the 60-35 title clinching victory.
Let’s go back to the buzz I was telling you about and all of the inter-woven story lines.
What better way for the New York Mills to celebrate their Class D sectional victory over Cincinnatus, but to have it also be the 500th career victory for their longtime coach, Michael Adey? None that I can think off.
What about the fact that coach Adey was honored as Class D Coach of the Year?
What about the fact that New York Mills won it’s fifth consecutive Section 3 Class D title in a row?
How about that the win earned the Marauders their seventh sectional title in the last nine years?
How about the fact that New York Mills won it’s 13th overall Section 3 Class D title?
What about Nick Comenale being named the Class D tournament’s Most Valuable player?
What about the fact that Zach Vennaro also earned a spot on the All-Tourney Team?
All of this in just thirty-two minutes of playing time. Imagine that!
Congratulations to head coach Mike Adey on win #500!
Coach Mike Adey is 3rd all time in wins in Section III, with 500.
New York Mills coach Mike Adey Class D Coach of the Year.
His nine Section 3 championships ranks him among the all-time leaders.
He is on the small list of coaches who have won multiple Championships at two schools and in two classes.
(Two Class C titles at Rome Catholic 1981, 1984; six Class D at NY Mills)
He has won Regional Championships at Two Schools and in Two Classes (1984 Class C RCH, 2010, 2011 Class D New York Mills)
He has won 20 league championships, 10 CSC Championships at New York Mills; 8 Inter Valley League at RCH and two Tri Valley League titles at New Hartford.
His 2011 Marauders Team won the New York State Class D Championship.
He is the first coach to win four straight Class D championships since Tom Murphy at Bellville/Belleville Henderson 1967-70.
What a day at the Dome indeed.
New York Mills 60 Cincinnatus 35
1 2 3 4 Total
Cincinnatus 15 8 9 3 35
New York Mills 20 11 18 11 60
MHTS Scoring Summary:
Cincinnatus:
Shea Feehan-13
Bryant Loomis-7
Nick Peri-6
Mickey Halstrom-5
Nick Lindley-4
2013 Section 3 Class D Champs-New York Mills Marauders.
New York Mills:
Nick Comenale-20
Zach Vennaro-16
D.J. Kirilko-8
Cody Mariotti-7
Terry Nichols-4
Jon Ross-3
Jake Kehrli-2
Dan Bruce-2
