Wildcats Eliminated by Hornets

The Rye Country Day School Wildcats were sent packing by the Hamden
Hall Hornets, losing 49-48 Wednesday.

The Wildcats lost in the first round of the Fairchester Athletic
Association Tournament playoffs. Wildcat Head Coach Vin Minotti said
his team struggled against a competitive Hamden Hall team.

"It was a tough way to lose a game in this fashion," Minotti said.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Hornets tied it at
5-5 when the Wildcats shots didn't drop, as was the case throughout
the game.

Rye Country Day regained control on a three by Darren Douglas to go up
8-5 with under 10 minutes to play and eventually led 23-15 at the
break. Shots continued to bounce the other way for the Wildcats,
forcing the team to stay ahead on points from steals when the Hornets
kept coming back.

The Wildcats had difficulty with the Hornets shooting in the second half.

"You gotta give credit to Hamden Hall. They shot the lights out in the
second half," Minotti said. "We didn't have any answers for their outside
shooting."

The Wildcats maintained control until five minutes left in the game.
The Hornets made both free throws on a Wildcats foul, forcing Minotti
to call a timeout with his team down 41-42.

Alex Gendelman tied the game with under four minutes to play, but the
Hornets hit a big three at 3:12 to go up 45-42.

The Hornets went up six, 49-43, before the Wildcats tried to rally for
a final run.

Jason Rogers netted a two at 1:19, cutting the lead to 49-45. Brian
Glazewski then scored off a big steal, which put the Wildcats behind
by only two. The Hornets fouled, bringing Glazewski to the line.

He missed one free throw and cut the Hornets lead by one, forcing the
Hornets to call a timeout with the ball in their possession.

A blocked Hornets' shot with thirty seconds left put the ball back in
the Wildcats' hands. Minotti then called a timeout to devise a plan
for the final play.

After the timeout, Gendelman had possession of the ball, but shot and
missed. Glazewski and Lowes Moore also attempted shots, but both came
up short.

It all appeared over when a foul was called on Rogers. However,
Gendelman would have one last chance for the lead after another
Wildcats timeout, but couldn't score. The Wildcats lost the game
49-48.

During the first half many of the Wildcats shots didn't fall through
the net, but Minotti said his team had good shot selection in the
second half.

"We were pleased with our offensive shooting down the stretch," he said.

Rye Country Day and Hamden Hall split their two games this season. The
Wildcats won the first meeting 68-51 on the Hornets' home floor in
January, but lost the second game at home 60-58 on Feb. 11.

Dante Brito led Hamden Hall with 16 points in Tuesday's game. Lowes
Moore led the Wildcats with 17.

The Wildcats will next play in the New York State Association of
Independent Schools (NYSAIS) tournament next Thursday.