SUNY COBLESKILL MEN WIN 2005 REGION III MEN’S BASKETBALL TITLE

Never in the 84 year history of the series between SUNY Cobleskill and Delhi Tech in men’s basketball had the stakes ever been higher as they were on Sunday when the two programs met for the 2005 NJCAA Region III Division III Championship hosted by Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY.  With a victory meaning a trip to the NJCAA Division III “Elite Eight” and with a potential home court advantage hanging in the balance for each program, the tournament will be played in Delhi, NY at Delhi Tech from March 17th through March 20th, the no limit style Texas Hold’m poker mantra of winner-take-all could be applied.

The game was a typical Cobleskill/Delhi contest with each team digging in on the defensive end of the floor, pounding the backboards and grinding it out in a half court setting offensively. When the dust had settled it was the Fighting Tigers prevailing over the Broncos in a low scoring 50-41 affair. With the victory Cobleskill moves its overall record to 29-4 on the season and advances to the “Elite Eight” for the second time in program history under the direction of Head Coach Kevin McCarthy. The Fighting Tigers appeared in the national tournament in 1998 advancing to the tournament’s “Final Four” that season.

“I’m very proud of our team, my staff and I’m extremely happy for all of our fans in the community who have supported us for so long,” said Coach McCarthy. “It was very gratifying to see so many of our fans in Utica over the weekend to cheer us on. We’ve received tremendous community support and now we’re all headed for Delhi and the nationals. This is an extraordinary group of young men to work with and we’re very excited to be representing our community at nationals.”

Senior forward Daniel Pierre, Brooklyn, NY, High School of Art & Design, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player by notching his third consecutive double/double with 13 points and 14 rebounds in the contest. Fellow senior Jamael Lynch, Brooklyn, NY, Bishop Laughlin High School, joined Pierre on the Region III All-Tournament Team with a 14 point, five assist, four rebound and two steal effort.

Freshman forward Abar Miller, Albany, NY, Redemption Christian Academy, came of the bench to score seven points and grab four rebounds while freshman swingman Max Menard, Brooklyn, NY, James Madison High School, also chipped in seven points off the Cobleskill bench in the victory. Senior center Scotty Frater, Poughkeepsie, NY, Spackenkill High School, continued his strong inside play in the tournament with four points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Fighting Tigers will open NJCAA National Tournament action against Minneapolis Community & Technical College of Minneapolis, MN on Thursday March 17th at Delhi Tech in Delhi, NY beginning at 8:00 PM.