Playing without injured standout junior Davey Ryan, the Rye Neck boys put together a team effort to advance to the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals.
Senior Kyle Harris scored a team-high 24 to help the sixth-seeded Panthers eliminate Edgemont, 67-60, on Friday. A trio of juniors chipped in, with Logan Williams scoring 16 points, Thomas McNiff 12, and Dante Friedman eight.
Miles Teixera scored 33 points for Edgemont (11-10) in a losing effort.
Rye Neck (14-7) advances to a quarterfinal matchup Tuesday at No. 3 Pearl River (15-6). The winner will move on to play March 1 at Westchester County Center.
IRVINGTON 41, RYE NECK GIRLS 39 — The 10th-seeded Panthers (10-10) trailed by five entering the fourth quarter Friday and were held scoreless until just 2:05 remained on the clock. The No. 7 Bulldogs (13-8) scored six straight to start the quarter, taking a 36-25 lead and leaving little hope for a Rye Neck rally.
But in her final high school game, Payton Namaga wouldn’t go down without a fight. The senior hit a corner 3-pointer to pull Rye Neck within six with 1:25 to go, then banked in another with 50 seconds left.
After Rye Neck banked in yet another 3 with 17 seconds left, Irvington turned the ball over on the inbounds pass. A foul sent Rye Neck to the free-throw line, down by three points with 11 seconds remaining.
The Panthers made the first to get within two points. The second free throw rimmed out, and Namaga grabbed the board and scored a putback to even the score at 39.
Irvington called time out, leaving several Bulldogs doubled over in shock and Rye Neck leaping for joy back to the huddle.
With 3.7 seconds remaining, Irvington hit a shot in the lane and drew a foul, going ahead 41-39. The missed free throw went out of bounds off of Rye Neck, and Irvington was able to dribble out the final seconds before a foul at the buzzer.
After ending Rye Neck’s season in the Class A tournament’s opening round, Irvington advances to face No. 2 Pelham (16-4).
