Both teams win in basketball game featuring Port Chester vs. Roosevelt

Lady Rams, however, outscore the Sharks 47-31

January 24, 2024 at 11:37 p.m.

Port Chester guard McKayla McLoughlin (12), an eighth grader, dribbles the ball down the court during the Lady Rams’ home game vs. Roosevelt High School on Monday, Jan. 22. The Lady Rams defeated the Sharks 47-31. (Chloe Trieff/Westmore News)

In a basketball game played in the middle of an ongoing controversy, the Port Chester Lady Rams went up against a troubled Roosevelt of Yonkers team Monday (1/22) at home and both teams won in the best sense of the word.

Port Chester won the game by a score of 47-31 with eighth-grade wunderkind McKayla McLoughlin leading the way with 20 points while her senior backcourt sidekick Samantha (Sam) Munoz hit for 15 points.

But Roosevelt also won because they played a strong, courageous, sportsmanlike game without a hint of controversy verbally or physically.

Beyond game score

And therein lies the story of what made this a very different kind of game that high school kids play.

Roosevelt came into the game amidst allegations that antisemitism surfaced during a Jan. 4 contest they played against The Leffell School, a Jewish day school in Hartsdale.

Roosevelt forfeited the game after Lefferts players complained about antisemitic slurs during the game, as reported by the Yonkers Legend as well as newspapers ranging from The Journal News to the New York Post. Roosevelt players denied making the slurs, as did their coach, who was fired.

Different versions

The Yonkers NAACP said its investigation found a "rush to judgement" with "no evidence of any antisemitic slurs" while the Yonkers school district said they did as did the Yonkers mayor's office, various state and national politicians and Lefferts players who also complained about alleged "roughhousing during the game," according to published reports.

    Port Chester forward Elise Thomas (3) reaches up to grab the rebound during the Lady Rams’ Monday, Jan. 22 home game against Roosevelt.
 By Chloe Trieff 

Did they or didn't they? The dispute continues in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza after the infamous Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel.

But if there was any "roughhousing" or an inadvertent elbow being thrown during the Roosevelt-Port Chester game, it wasn't apparent.

In fact, it was high school basketball at its best, from the opening salute to the American flag during the National Anthem to virtually no complaints about the officiating from either fan base in the stands. It was a well-played game. Roosevelt was bigger. But the Lady Rams had the better backcourt. Roosevelt's shooting was off when it counted. Port Chester was on. And that was the difference.

Off to fast start

The Lady Rams ran off 12 unanswered points to start the game on quick buckets from McLoughlin and Munoz, held Roosevelt scoreless in the first quarter and held on to go into the half leading 20-14, padding the lead to 35-20 at the three-quarters mark and clearing the bench as the score rose to the final 47-31 total at the end.

By that time, McLoughlin was making behind the back passes and cross over dribbles and Munoz hit a three-point drive and foul shot that helped the Lady Rams pull away when Roosevelt drew to within six points. McLoughlin did the same thing with a three from behind the key. Roosevelt never quit. But it just wasn't their day. Their friendly team handshakes at the end of the game showed good sportsmanship. And both teams held their heads high and gave it their best.

For Port Chester's Lady Rams, it was another chance for Danny Davis's well-coached team to continue to look good after an earlier 67-24 win last week against Saunders with McLoughlin again the high scorer with 22 points while Elise Thomas notched 11 and Isabela Lopez scored nine points.

But the last two games against Roosevelt and Saunders showcased a marked improvement for the close-knit team that includes Karah Provenzano, Nataly Garcia, Nagare Jones, Gianna Rende, Yvonne Santiago, Analia Sosa, Julia Wolff and Alyssa Gagnon. The resurgence showed Port Chester could more than hold their own against lesser teams after losses in recent games by scores of 72-32 against Ossining, 62-28 to Fox Lane and 59-41 to Mount Vernon, all Westchester top tier teams.

Progress, not perfection

So, for now, it is progress, not perfection for the Lady Rams without controversy of any kind—and maybe even an upset win against a strong Clarkstown North team in their next game at home Monday (1/29) at 5 p.m. And who knows what else can happen: after all, Kayleigh Heckel, one of Port Chester's greatest female players who transferred to prep school powerhouse Long Island Lutheran to enhance her college scholarship prospects last year, was named to the McDonald's All-American team Tuesday (1/23) and has a full basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California.

If Port Chester Lady Rams head coach Danny Davis, the mentor Heckel calls "Uncle Danny" who she says helped mold her into the player she has become, keeps working his magic, who knows what may happen for McLoughlin, the Middle Schooler who started playing for the varsity as a seventh grader, just as Heckel did. Stranger things have happened. Including the different stories revolving around what really took place during that controversial Roosevelt-Leffell School game.