B.B. boys’ basketball loses in overtime heartbreaker

Homecoming game set for Friday

January 24, 2024 at 11:14 p.m.

Nicolas Palacios blocks a Rye Neck player from passing the ball in last Friday’s 62-48 home victory over the Panthers. (Brooke Sosin/Westmore News)

The Blind Brook Trojans boys’ basketball team looks to continue their hot streak following the North Salem weekend tournament. After winning the North Salem championship and four straight games, the Trojans are the hottest they have been all season. Junior captain Noah Brookman, MVP of the tournament, is playing great ball and Eli Zimmerman, as always, is alongside him.

After having their Westlake match postponed on Tuesday, Jan. 16 due to snow, the boys got some extra rest before their heavily anticipated matchup on Thursday, Jan. 18 at Pleasantville. This was a huge game for the Trojans, being a league matchup. The Trojans displayed weak shooting and were unable to make a big presence away. They ended up falling by a 71-64 score. Bailey Estep put up 19, Brookman 16 and Zimmerman 14, but it was not enough to push the Trojans ahead.

The Trojans were able to brush the rust off and build up confidence a day later in front of a home crowd dressed all in white. Rye Neck was in town and the Trojans took care of them easily, dominating by 14 points. The big turnout at the Friday night game was a large part of the 62-48 win, upgrading the Trojans’ record to 9-4. The Trojans’ elite defense was huge, including two charges taken by senior Ryan Stiler and one more from sophomore Tyler Taerstein.

The tired Trojans team traveled to Westlake High School to make up for their canceled matchup from earlier in the week. Exhausted after playing the previous two days, the Trojans were unable to get their shots to fall. The rough shooting led to Blind Brook’s falling in a low-scoring, sloppy, 43-37 performance.

The Trojans got a much-needed rest day before getting back to business on Monday, Jan. 22 at home against Ardsley. This was the Trojans’ fourth game in five days, and they looked to continue to upgrade their solid 9-5 record.

The Trojans got ready for the 6:15 tipoff, and it was close from the start. A back-and-forth showdown between the two sides ended after two overtimes. Zimmerman and Taerstein’s elite defense was not able to stop Ardsley, and the game ended with a 73-69 score.

The Trojans look to shake off the loss and go into the weekend playing their homecoming match against Hastings High School on Friday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. They then play at home again on Monday, Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m. against Walter Panas High School, Tuesday, Jan. 30 away against Briarcliff at 6 p.m., and Thursday, Feb. 1 at home against Valhalla at 4:30 p.m.