We’re getting set to head down the stretch of the regular season, and that means there are plenty of big games from here on out.
Let’s take a look at three of them. Our “First Three.”
Alex Prostano, right, and Rye take on Byram Hills on Thursday. (Photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News)
Then, fire away with your toughts and requests for picks on any other games.
Away we go:
North Rockland at Put Valley (Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.): The Red Raiders will be eager to bounce back after not only suffering their first loss of the season on Saturday — by doing so decisively in ann 11-2 setback at Brewster. The Tigers, meanwhile, hope to enter the postseason playing their best lax of the season.
Prediction: North Rockland 9, Put Valley 8
Rye at Byram Hills (Thursday, 4:30 p.m.): The Bobcats have been one of the seasons’ biggest surprises so far. Now, they hope to show their legitimacy by giving three-time Class C champion Rye a game. The Garnets, meanwhile, are eager to show they are at another level.
Prediction: Rye 9, Byram Hills 4
Murphy Cup: Yorktown vs. Lakeland/Panas at Lakeland (Saturday, 6 p.m.): Last season, the Rebels ended Yorktown’s string of 12 consecutive victories in the event that honors the legendary co-founder of Yorktown’s boys lacrosse program. L/P won 10-9, pulling it out on a goal by Keith Rodriguez with 10 seconds left. This year, the Rebels have struggled after jumping out to a 4-0 start, and Yorktown enters as a heavy favorite. But don’t be surprised if the Rebels rise to the occasion and keep it interesting — and maybe then some.
Prediction: Yorktown 12, Lakeland/Panas 8
100 Comments
what happened between stepinac and white plains? and how do you feel about white plains having won some against some good teams and having lost some against some bad ones?
whats the news with p’ville and hen hud? hen hud beat them pretty good
I feel you are right about North Salem and White Plains being favorites, but they have both put up some odd results such as White Plains’s first 3 games of the season as well as North Salem’s losses to Briarcliff and Nyack.
Also how are you lining up the top 8 in class C section 1 at the moment? possible sectional seeding predictions please
WClax,
Eastchester Won 8-2. Field was a mess despite the turf.
Big improvement for Eastchester from their 14-5 loss last year. Look for the Eagles to become a presence in section 1 lax within the next few years.
how is it odd when both North Salem and White Plains were dominated by Briarcliff? Were u at those games they were clearly the lesser teams.
At the White Plains vs Stepinac game there was an incredible number of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties taken by players on the Stepinac team. After many whistles there was pushing and shoving, sometimes ending with penalties.
I was at those games… and i do not dispute the quality of the Briarcliff team, they are having a great season and have some very good players. I do however feel that the manner with which Briarcliff dominated North Salem was something that stood out because on paper North Salem seemed to match up much closer to Briarcliff than the scoreline and the play reflected. In addition, that was easily the worst performance North Salem has put up this season.
section 1 – White Plains did struggle early on, but the Tigers did have some injury problems at that point and appear to be at full strength now.
As for top seeds in C, Rye has all but locked up No. 1. Put Valley will be 2 because power-league teams are seeded higher regardless of record. No other C teams are in the power league. Beyond that, it’s too early to say, but if anyone else wants to offer their seeding picks, feel free.
rye 11- hen hud 3, rye 10- Byrum hills 3
joe so you are saying that if byram hills beats put valley in their game in a few weeks, they will still be seeded lower than them for sectionals?
joe, in the thread that was posted in september regarding power league teams, put valley was not included in the power league, did they get moved in to the power league or was that just a simple mistake on your part?
Joe, I thought Byram Hills and Pleasantville also get priority seeding in class C
perelle is a good player but look at who mahopac plays.everybody gets down on Iona for their soft schedule but Mahopac’s maybe softer…Stats are not the end all when looking for AA or empire players. some of the picks for AA or Empires may suprise all you experts
Their are only 4 or 5 seniors on the Iona Prep team. They were very good against Rye, clearly not good enough but Miles Gilespi and Nick Trizano could definalty be good looks for EMPS. YEAAAAAAAA NUCCCAAAAA
I took a look at Class C teams and heres what i came up with for sectionals… not in seeded order of course, but at this point in the season i feel we will see these 12 getting a place and the last sport up for grabs. Ardsley- Briarcliff
BronxvilleByram- Eastchester- Edgemont- Haldane- North Salem- Pelham- Pleasantville Put.Valley -Rye and (Irvington/Nanuet/other)btw, no significance to the line through bronxville, just a typo
correction: i would switch Haldane into the maybe spot and make Nanuet a firm choice
section 1 – I hope you’re right! Nanuet got a good test in the Nyack game on Saturday – we knew it would be all along, but then when they had to switch their lineup at the last minute and the boys came through… you really saw how they’ve matured since last year and are building some depth.
section 1 – I hope you’re right! Nanuet got a good test last weekend against Nyack. They knew all season that this was the game to win, but then when they had to switch their lineup at the last minute and they came through – they really proved that they’ve matured since last year and they’re really playing like a team. They’re a small team and flexibility is key, as they proved last week. One injury can’t set them back.
sorry for the double post – my browser is having trouble refreshing and I thought my first post didn’t get saved.
Joe, and anyone else… your thoughts on that selection?
As of right now I’m going to put the top 5 class C seedings in the hands of 1)Rye, 2)Byram 3)Put Valley 4)Pville 5)Briarcliff.
Anyone thoughts on that?
Section 1 – Put Valley will be ahead of Byram regardless of record because it’s in the power league. But it looks good.
according to laxpower, eastchester isn’t in class C. i think they are in B. As a side note, I hear a lot about the improvement of Edgemont and Byram Hills.
joe could have sworn Byram was the last power league team
my rankings are 1) Rye 2) Put Valley 3) Pleasentville 4) Byram 5) Briarcliff 6) Bronxville 7) Ardsley 8) North Salem 9) Edgemont 10) Pelham 11) Nanuet 12) (this one im not sure about). thoughts?
Joe how bout North Salem vs. Pelham tomarrow?
sorry thats supposed to be a number eight….. not a smiley face
joe this is a direct quote from the thread that was posted in september, with this information when was putnam valley moved in to the power league?
The top-ranked nine teams who will make up the power league are (in the order they were ranked last night):
1. John Jay
2. Yorktown
3. Lakeland/Panas
4. Somers
5. Brewster
6. Rye
7. Mahopac
8. Horace Greeley
9. Hen Hud
laxer11 – not sure how you can have pville above byram when byram beat pville
I have a correction about the power league.
Putnam Valley is in League 1-A, but not the power league. The power league is the top nine ranked teams. Those are the teams that receive sectional seeding preference. The only Class C team among those nine is Rye.
“This link”:http://boyslacrosse.lohudblogs.com/2007/09/18/coaches-rank-teams-decide-on-power-league/ has the power league alignment.
lax87 – I just realized that as well. I posted the comment above as soon as you posted yours. Hope that clears things up now – and serves me right for trying to rely on my memory instead of looking up what I had actual written and reported before — though a while back.
NS vs. Pelham?
its all good joe, but what are your views on class c? clearly rye is the best team at this point, but i am interested to see what the bobcats bring to the table on thursday and then again next tuesday when they play put valley, i think those three teams have established themselves as the top 3 with the recent falling off of pville and also because the panthers were beat by both byram and pv earlier in the year
freedom writer – Tough to go against the Tigers right now. They’ve been more consistent this season than Pelham as well.
lax87 – Obviously Rye is a heavy favorite. But Put Valley has recommitted itself to playing defense. If it can play the way Hen Hud did today against Rye in the postseason, who knows? But again, it would be a surprise. A big surprise.
I agree about Byram. The Bobcats have been a great story this year – and let’s not forget their two losses were against Class A teams. It will be interesting to see what happens Thursday when Rye meets Byram.
“laxer11 April 29th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
my rankings are 1) Rye 2) Put Valley 3) Pleasentville 4) Byram 5) Briarcliff 6) Bronxville 7) Ardsley 8) North Salem 9) Edgemont 10) Pelham 11) Nanuet 12) (this one im not sure about). thoughts?”
Laxer 11 – I’d say Ardsley hasn’t shown any reason it should be that high this year, and i think Bronxville still have to prove their case this year. Both programs look like they are suffering the loss of key players from last year. I agree with what you have, but id put North Salem in the 6 spot and bump the other two down. The next two weeks will show a lot about the 6-13 rankings though
“This link”:http://boyslacrosse.lohudblogs.com/2008/02/26/class-alignments-are-set/ may also be helpful.
It has the class alignments for this season.
Is Eastchester in class C or class B?
I thought they were B but your class alignments has them under C… is that a mistake or not?
I have seen Both Rye and Byram Hills this year. BH is obviously significantly better than last year, but still not in Rye’s league. They have too many lapses during the game when they lose control of play. Rye, on the other hand, is very well under control, perhaps too much, but Rye will take advantage of the BH lapses and win 8-4.
Laxwatcher,
Interesting comment about Rye maybe being in “too much control”. Dooley great coach so trust strategy but appears that on O Rye seems to sometimes pass the ball too much with people thinking they should shoot more?
Joe,
Above you mention that if PV can play the way HH did against rye, could have chance. To this I’d point out that if it were not for HH’s goalie having to make 25 saves (many spectaculor) to Rix’s 6 the score would have been much more lop-sided in favor of Rye. Also Rye seemed “flat” with some key players making some uncharacteristic mistakes. Hopefully Rye will get back to its pre-Spring break form! Rye needs to STEP IT UP.
I can’t argue with the success that Rye and Dooley have had. My only thought is that they do pass up good shots for great shots. IMO, sometimes you have to shoot when it isn’t a perfect opportunity. Force the goalie to make a save. The only game I saw Rye lose recently was last year when they passed up a more than a couple of good shots to look for the better shot and ended losing by 2. It might never catch up with them, and almost certainly won’t in Section 1 playoffs, but after that, who knows???
Does anybody believe anyone can upset Rye anytime soon? Will any other Class C teams have any section 1 glory?
I think while people are proud that section 1 is becoming stronger and stronger each season, there is a collective sigh of relief and spark of hope among class C teams across the area when Rye “slips up” or drops its standard… anyone else agree?
Joe,
What are your thoughts on Hen Hud vs. North Rockland tomorrow?
Hen Hud will enter the game with a lot of confidence coming off the triple-OT game vs. three-time Class C sectional champ Rye. North Rockland, meanwhile, has lost two straight after its unbeaten start.
Hen Hud 8, North Rockland 6
Joe North Salem vs. Arlington friday?
Here’s another poll that has been a New York standard for years, long before any Inside Lacrosse national poll garbage even existed.
The New York State Sportswriters Association polls for Classes A, B and C (through April 27):
http://www.newyorksportswriters.org/reference/current_polls_blax_080430.shtml
Class A: Yorktown No. 5
Class B: John Jay No. 3; Brewster No. 14
Class C: Rye No. 6; Byram Hills No. 15 (congrats to them by the way!)
nr vs hen hud game has been moved to friday.. just to let everyone know
fw – North Salem 9, Arlington 5
I am back….North Salem 7, Arlington 6 … joe awesome job with the blog btw its better than ever
Joe- what do u think about ardsley scarsdale this saturday?
sect1 – Scarsdale 12, Ardsley 5