COBLESKILL MEN BEAT HERKIMER 77-75 FOR REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

A frantic Herkimer Community College fan ran full speed into the General Sports Complex Sunday afternoon frantically asking, “What happened? What happened?” to a large group of black wind suited figures exiting the facility. The answer was provided by Fighting Tiger senior reserve center Kyle Mitchell, Hadley, NY, Hadley-Luzerne High School, “SUNY Cobleskill happened; that’s what happened.”

Less than twenty-four hours after their spectacular 86-79 upset semifinal victory over the nation’s unbeaten number, one ranked and top seeded Hudson Valley Community College Vikings in the 2008 Region III Division III Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament hosted by Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, NY the number four seeded Fighting Tigers we at it again. This time Cobleskill punched their dance ticket to the NJCAA Division III National Championships by downing the nationally number six ranked and second seeded host Generals of Herkimer in a 77-75 barnburner improving their overall record to 25-6 on the year.

Leading by as many as 17 points in the second half the Fighting Tigers held on for dear life as the Generals staged a furious comeback which cut the lead to 73-72 with 50.8 seconds to play before senior forward Stanley Francois, Valley Cottage, NY, Suffern High School, converted on a lay-up in transition and was fouled. Francois missed the lay-up but freshman guard Michael Knight, Spring Valley, NY, Spring Valley High School, out hustled the much taller Herkimer players for a rebound and was fouled on the put-back attempt. Knight split the free throws which put gave Cobleskill a 76-72 cushion and the foundation for the victory.

“When I looked into our kids eyes during timeouts, I saw this look of determination and resiliency. Although I felt Herkimer had momentum down the stretch, I felt that we had the frame of mind to hold them off which we did,” said a jubilant Fighting Tiger Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. “I’m sure that we weren’t the sexiest or most exciting pick coming into the weekend. But in hindsight we look pretty good right now. These are special young men and I’m very proud of them.”

Leading the way for the Fighting Tigers was tournament most-valuable-player senior guard Darryl Burns Jr., Brooklyn, NY, High School of Art & Design, who scored a team leading 16 points to go with four assists, three rebounds and a steal supported by senior point guard Harley Fuller, Gloversville, NY, Broadalbin-Perth High School, who scored 13 points, passed out seven assists, took down three rebounds, made three steals and blocked two shots and from Stanley Francois who posted a double/double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the contest.

Cobleskill also received strong efforts All-Tournament Team selections senior power forward Anthony Armstead, Schenectady, NY, who scored 10 points, took down seven rebounds and dished out two assists and Michael Knight who scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the victory. Freshman guard Nyquan Bellamy, who scored 12 points to go with two assists on the afternoon.

The Fighting Tigers will next meet NJCAA Region XIX Champions of Middlesex Community College from Edison, NJ in the quarterfinal round of the 2008 NJCAA Division III National Championship Tournament hosted by SUNY Delhi in Delhi, NY on Thursday March 13th at 8:00 PM. The Colts are currently 27-3 overall on the season and ranked second in the latest NJCAA Division III National Poll.

TIGER NOTES: This is the third NJCAA Region III Division III Championship won by the Fighting Tigers in program history. Cobleskill had previously captured championships in 1998 and 2005 all under the direction of Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. Harley Fuller has established a new program mark for most assists in a single season with 248. The Gloversville, NY native is also the team’s career leader in the category with 423. Stanley Francois currently ranks fifteenth in career scoring with 727 points and fourth in career rebounding with 544 making him only the fourth player in program history to amass 700 points and 500 rebounds. Anthony Armstead is currently ranked twenty-eighth in career scoring with 607 points.

In all of SUNY Cobleskill regional championships, the Fighting Tigers have beaten Hudson Valley Community College: in 1998 by an 80-63 margin in the quarterfinals, in 2005 by a score of 67-64 also in the quarterfinals and in 2008 by a tally of 86-79 in the semifinals. The regional championships have been won in three separate locations: 1998 at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY, 2005 at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY, and 2008 at Herkimer Community College in Herkimer, NY. Coach Kevin McCarthy’s career record at SUNY Cobleskill is 338-117, 74.3% winning percentage, making him the winningest coach in program history.