GameDay One and LocalLive had wall to wall coverage of the this weekend’s eight-game Slam Dunk Showcase, as well as the capper, the Crusader Classic between rivals Iona Prep and Stepinac. All nine games from the Westchester County Center were broadcast live on LocalLive and can be watched on replay at the links below.
Here’s a look at the best and brightest moments from a thrilling weekend in local basketball:
FRIDAY
GAME 1: PLEASANTVILLE OUTLASTS TUCKAHOE IN SHOWDOWN OF THE AREA’S BEST YOUNG TALENT
The two most talked about teams with their underclassmen standouts met in the first game of the Slam Dunk Showcase. Tuckahoe, a team that went to the state final in Class C last year with a three two freshmend and two eighth-graders in the lineup, lost to a Pleasantville team that started three freshmen on Friday.
Maddie Becerra (above) and Lexi Tomaselli guided the Panthers to a 62-56 victory. Becerra led the way with 16 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists while Tomaselli earned MVP honors with 17 points, including the 3-pointer in the final minute to break a 56-56 tie.
Megan Raefski, the game’s only senior, had 12 points for the Panthers, who overcame a sensational effort from freshman Chloe Angello of Tuckahoe. Angello scored 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss.
Watch the game back – Pleasantville vs. Tuckahoe – in its entirety here on LocalLive.
GAME 2: NEW ROCHELLE UPENDS RIVAL WHITE PLAINS BOYS
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New Rochelle returned from its trip down South and blew away White Plains and the crowd at the County Center in Friday’s first contest on the boys side.
Izaiah Augustine and Justin Cohen each scored 11 points for the Huguenots. Cohen added eight rebounds to the game’s MVP trophy. New Ro’s balanced scoring included Malik Gapser‘s eight points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots while the defense forced 30 turnovers and held White Plains to 11 of 54 shooting from the field (20%).
Bryce Thomas was a bright spot for White Plains, scoring 16 points and dishing out three assists.
FULL GAME: Watch White Plains and New Rochelle on LocalLive here.
GAME 3: WOODLANDS PULLS AWAY LATE TO BEAT PEEKSKILL
The matchup of defending Section 1 champions saw Woodlands, the Class B champs, show the big-game resolve in the fourth quarter.
Woodlands and Peekskill were deadlocked after three quarters but the Falcons made the clutch shots late for a 66-57 victory. Aaron Woodberry led the way for Woodlands, scoring 24 points to earn game MVP honors.
FULL GAME: Woodlands vs. Peekskill in the Slam Dunk Showcase here.
SATURDAY
GAME 4: ARDSLEY GIRLS SHOW CHEMISTRY, HOLDS OFF OSSINING
If the Ardsley girls have designs of seriously competing for a Gold Ball this season in Section 1, the Panthers will need efforts just like Saturday.
Ardsley played arguably the best game of team basketball of the season to defeat Ossining in the first game of the day, 59-48, to improve to 5-1.
St. Bonaventure forward Iva Corluka earned MVP with 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in the win. Leah Burriss had 18 points and seven rebounds and Madison Bortstein made a series of key shots in the fourth quarter to finish with 12 points and six boards.
Joie Levy, a 5-foot-4 senior, grabbed 14 rebounds for Ardsley, which is among the top contenders for the Section 1 Class A championship.
FULL GAME: Ardsley defeats Ossining on LocalLive here
Claire Schnecker led Ossining with 20 points and seven rebounds and Saniya Bell had 18 points.
GAME 5: PANAS STAR TAVAREZ OVERCOMES ILLNESS, CARRIES PANTHERS
Sofia Tavarez had almost no energy thanks to a serious illness. Her head coach was home following shoulder surgery. And two early fouls put he fellow all-state teammate on the bench for almost the entire first half.
Yet the senior point guard still managed deliver her best game of the season and perhaps the most heroic of her varsity career.
Tavarez, who signed to play at Connecticut College, scored 29 points on 11 of 17 shooting to earn MVP honors as Panas defeated Ursuline for the second time in a week, winning 61-46.
Cadence Nicholas, who was forced to the bench with two early fouls by acting head coach Brandon Thomas, still managed to scored all 15 of her points in the second half as Panas moved to 8-1. Katie Hofmann scored nine points, Jillian Cinquina had eight rebounds, Kiara Williams grabbed seven, and Giuliana Rodriguez (four steals, three assists) was terrific off the bench.
FULL GAME: Watch Panas defeats Ursuline in Slam Dunk Showcase matchup here.
GAME 6: MARQUEE GIRLS SHOWDOWN SEE CTK DOWN ALBERTUS MAGNUS
Two of the elite girls basketball programs in New York State met on Saturday at the County Center. And Christ the King showed just how wide the game is between them and everyone else.
The Royals handled reigning Class AA state champion Albertus Magnus, 68-49, in a game that feature two of the most prized recruits in the country.
Olivia Vukosa, a 6-foot-5 junior for Christ the King, showed off her wide array of skills, recording 19 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks. Vukosa has serious interest from all of the major programs in the nation, including UConn, Notre Dame, Iowa and more.
Albertus’ 6-foot-3 standout Julia Scott led the Falcons with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Maddy Zuppe added 16 points the loss.
FULL GAME: Watch Christ the King’s convincing win over Albertus in the Slam Dunk here.
GAME 7: MAMARONECK BOYS SHUT DOWN RYE TO GO TO 10-0
The first team to 10 wins in the 2024-25 season is Mamaroneck after matching the physicality and toughness of Rye in Saturday’s first of three Slam Dunk boys matchups.
MVP Elijah Friedman connected on five 3-pointers and scored 20 points to pace the Tigers to a convincing 64-50 win over Rye.
Will Plunkett added 17 points and five rebounds and Brandon Burrell scored 14, including a late 3-pointer, and had six assists in the victory. Mamaroneck only had four turnovers as a team and shot 23 of 51 (45%) from the field.
Rockland Boisseau led Rye with 18 points and Jake Kessner scored 12 for the Garnets.
FULL GAME: Watch Mamaroneck’s win over Rye in the Slam Dunk here.
GAME 8: SUSSBERG SHINES AGAIN AS SCARSDALE BEATS BYRAM
Another opportunity to play on the Westchester County Center floor allowed local fans to see Jake Sussberg of Scarsdale show off why he’s a Division I commit.
The 6-foot-5 senior headed to play at Princeton University had his share of jaw-dropping moments in the 57-41 win over Byram Hills. Sussberg scored 22 points on 9 of 18 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and had six assists in the victory.
Brandon Gibbons added 16 points on 7 of 11 shooting as the Raiders took control from the start and led wire to wire.
Byram Hills, the defending Section 1 Class A champions, struggled to keep pace with the Raiders, who improved to 6-1.
Brody Ceisler led Byram Hills (6-1) with 16 points.
FULL GAME: Watch Scarsdale beat Byram Hills in the Slam Dunk here
