It wasn’t easy, but Rye (12-4) got ‘er done against a game Bronxville (7-9) for the Garnets third win of a game-heavy week. In Friday’s 55-50 road win, senior Henry Shoemaker led the way with 23 points, Carson Miller had 14, and junior Cal Wing added 11 clutch points off the bench.
Miller and Shoemaker: the now legendary quarterback/wide receiver tandem that led Rye to a state football championship a few short months ago, set the competitive tone for this Garnets basketball team. They hustle, run, rebound, and defend as if each game were the last of their storied high school careers. Leaders like these two great young men don’t come around often.
Coach Tom Proudian is fully aware.
“Henry and Carson are the leaders of this team, for obvious reasons,” he said. “For us, defense has to be at its pinnacle at all times – that’s non-negotiable. Henry and Carson are two competitive, physical defenders. Their effort and their drive rub off on our entire team. At times, if our shots aren’t falling, our defense will keep us in every game and give us a chance to win.”
Rye had to come from behind against Bronxville. Down 12-5 to the Broncos after one quarter, the Garnets roared back in the second quarter to lead 27-24 at the half. In the second half, with Shoemaker working overtime, Rye’s bench stepped up. Junior Cal Wing in the paint. Senior Milo Shirakawa from the elbow. And the welcome sight of senior Sebastian Lewis back in the lineup after missing a few weeks due to injury.
The Garnets will try for a fourth win this week at noon Saturday against Roosevelt (10-6), a team Rye beat on the road a month ago. Rye won’t play Sunday, but jumps back into action again Monday for the first of three games in the final week of the regular season.
