Sports

Rye Outlasts Harrison

A great fourth quarter guided the Rye Garnets to a 52-39 victory over Harrison.

The Rye Garnets dominated the final 10 minutes of a once competitive game to defeat the Harrison Huskies 52-39 Saturday afternoon in New Rochelle.

Rye was relentless on the defensive side of the ball, capitalizing on Harrison turnovers en route to the rivalry game victory.  Rye outscored Harrison 22-9 in the fourth quarter, avenging a loss to the Huskies earlier this season.

"The biggest thing was revenge," said Brian Pickup, who led Rye with 15 points.  "I feel like we had a better desire all week in practice."

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Rye double-teamed Harrison's Dennis Rinaldi under the basket, keeping the ball out of the star forward's hands down the stretch.

"He's a tremendous player, the less touches we give him the better off we are," said Rye Head Coach Chris DiCintio.  "If he did catch the ball we immediately swarmed him and tried to get the ball out of his hands."

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Rinaldi finished with a game high 17 points, but his production was limited down the stretch as the Huskies were unable to get him the ball under the basket.

"Our guards couldn't get by their guards, thats the bottom line," said Harrison Head Coach Gary Chiarella.  "They dictated what we did and you're never going to win a game when that happens."

Although Harrison took a three point lead into the fourth quarter, Rye looked like the more aggressive team throughout the final period, never giving Harrison an opportunity to climb back into contention.

"I thought the first time we played them in the County Center we really lacked energy," said DiCintio.  "I think they really prepared themselves and they wanted it more, by far, in this game."

The Rye victory evens the season series between the schools, and they will not meet again during the regular season.

"Honestly, it's big for the kids because its a rivalry for them," said DiCintio.  "For the kids themselves, this is a big game."

Harrison has now lost three in a row and has five days to prepare for their next game Friday night against Port Chester.

"We'll look at the tape, see where we can get better and we'll move on from there," said Chiarella.

Rye will meet Fox Lane on Monday.  The Garnets will look to continue to build momentum as they finish the three games remaining on their regular season schedule.

"They have really turned around in the second half of the season," said DiCintio.  "They prepare really hard in practice, they focus, they listen and I couldn't be prouder."

 


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