Only 24 hours after the Amsterdam girls basketball team defeated Sotia-Glenville in overtime, the Amsterdam boys varsity team added their chapter to the history books knocking the Tartans from the ranks of the un-beatens and in the process ending one of the longest win streaks in New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Section 2 basketball. Kory Bergh led everyone in scoring with 25 points for the Rams including a game high six three point baskets as Amsterdam prevailed in overtime 58-52 at Amsterdam High School.
“This was a big game,” Bergh said. “It gives us a boost in confidence for the regular season and beyond. A great team win.”
Amsterdam got off to a good start in the first quarter outscoring the Tartans 18-2 led by the hot shooting of Bergh who connected for three of his long range shots in the opening period. SGHS’ Trevor Martin scored the first points of the game, but the Rams ripped off the next 18 on baskets by Matt Fedullo, Ben Rhodes, Tysean Hanna, and Bergh, who made three straight triples including an off balance heave at the buzzer that went off the backboard and in to complete the big run. The make completed a string of four straight from behind the arc (Hanna’s first made it 9-2 AHS) and a strong start for the Running Rams.
“I couldn’t have been happier with the start,” Amsterdam head coach Tim Jones said. “But, you just knew they would be there. Scotia-Glenville is a well coached, disciplined team. They set so many screens and pass the ball well. It’s amazing they don’t get called for an illegal screen.”
The Tartans began to work their magic to begin the second quarter. Martin connected for the three point shot on an assist from Christian Corker, and on the next trip down the floor assisted on Corker’s triple to cut Amsterdam’s lead to ten at 18-8. A basket by Hanna stopped the run but Scotia’s accurate passing paid off with all five players touching the ball before a shot was attempted. Sean DeGraffenred found Rhys Teneyck headed for the rim and later assisted on a jump shot by Corker to keep the lead at ten. Bergh answered again for AHS with his fourth three pushing the Rams lead to 25-12. A basket in close by Rhodes on a beautiful pass by Hanna extended the margin by two more before Martin took an in bounds pass to the net leaving AHS up 27-14 at the half. The Tartans had cut into the lead, but missed opportunities in the first quarter and the hot shooting of Bergh proved costly.
“We missed some layups in the first quarter and if you make them it’s a different story,” Scotia-Glenville head coach Jim Giammattei said. “Kory Bergh then hit three straight three point shots and that made a hugh difference.”
Scotia-Glenville continued to chip away at the lead in the second half with Amsterdam doing everything it could to keep the game in their favor. Martin and Dan Clune scored the first point of the second half for the Tartans slicing the lead to single digits, but the Rams were up to the challenge and got possibly the best game of his career from Matt Fedullo who assisted on the next two trips into the Scotia zone finding Ben Rhodes near the net and boosting the AHS lead back to double digits at 31-18. Matt Fedullo finished with five points and four rebounds, but his biggest contributions were his 11 assists on offense and guarding Christian Corker on defense.
“Matt Fedullo had eleven assists and played with a lot of poise tonight,” Coach Jones said. He had the task of guarding Christian Corker and did good job. He came up big for us.”
Scotia-Glenville outscored Amsterdam 19-7 in the third quarter, but Corker didn’t find the net until the very last points of a 13-2 Tartans run. DeGraffenreid connected for a pair of triples and Martin for another sandwiched around a lay up by Keenan Holloway to close the gap with Corker’s final pair leaving the Rams with a slim one point advantage at 34-33 heading to the fourth quarter. All eyes were on the court to see which team would win the race at the finish.
Bergh got things going for AHS grabbing his own rebound and putting it through to keep Amsterdam in front. A jump shot by Clune narrowed it to one again and when DeGraffenreid gathered in a loose ball and drove the length of the court the game was tied for the first time since 2-2 in the opening quarter. DeGraffenreid’s free throw gave the Tartans the lead but the Rams responded with a drive to the rim by Dale Stanavich on an assist from Bergh, and a foul shot from Matt Fedullo after a strong move to the rim. Corker and Clune put the Tartans in front again, but a steal by Holloway turned into a driving move to the net by Hanna, whose free throw inched AHS ahead once more 42-41. The game became more of a match between two boxers, each trying to gain and advantage and trying to see how much the other could withstand.
“We made sure we could take a punch,” Bergh said. “We responded for the game.”
Bergh answered again after DeGraffenreid tied things up at 42-42 with a free throw. The senior guard took the ball to the top of the key, stopped and popped in a three putting the Rams in front once again which energized the crowd. Degraffenreid replied for the Tartans converting a three point play with 17.4 second left in regulation sending the game to overtime. Amsterdam had plenty of fight left in them and all their starters still in the game.
The Tartans sent only six different players to the court for the game with Ricky Woodley the only sub coming off the bench to spell a member of the starting five. Meanwhile, Amsterdam used eight players for the game getting contributions from everyone who touched the floor. Matt Fedullo continued his outstanding night finding Holloway for a lay up to start the extra frame and then intercepted a pass and found Bergh for three more putting the Rams back on top 50-45. DeGraffenreid cut the lead back to two with a three of his own, but those were his last points of the game. DeGraffenreid led the Tartans with 16 points. Amsterdam never trailed in overtime with Bergh and Holloway both scoring layups and free throws to seal the win. Holloway came up with a pair of offensive rebounds in the extra period that led to AHS points.
“We were playing good defense and got some big rebounds,” Coach Jones said. “Keenan was our big man rebounding tonight. He stayed out of foul trouble. Everyone out there did what they had to do.”
Holloway finished with nine points and a team high nine rebounds. Hanna also had nine points and seven rebounds, Rhodes had eight points, and Dale Stanavich finished with two points and three rebounds. Gehrig Garner and Louis Fedullo each had one rebound. Bergh added four rebounds to his game high 25 points, and almost ended the game in regulation. His shot off the rim at the buzzer in the fourth period was his only three point miss, but what he made, made a difference.
“My team was confident in me shooting the ball, Bergh said.” I came through and it’s good we got the W.
The win by Amsterdam snapped the Tartans 74 game win streak in NYSPHSAA Section 2 boy’s basketball. Scotia-Glenville has won the last two Section 2 Class A titles going undefeated in the 2013-2014 season at 27-0, and taking the crown last year with a 26-1 record. Their last loss was in March 2015 at the Boys Federation Basketball Final falling in overtime 68-63 to Catholic High School Athletic Association’s (CHSAA) Canisius in the Class A title game.
“We had a bad start and that happens once every so many games,” said Coach Giammattei. “We never talk about the streak. Just play. These kids are only human, and will have a bad night. It’s part of the game.”
Martin was next after Degraffenreid with 12 points for the Tartans. Corker and Clune had 10 points each, and TenEyck added four points for Scotia-Glenville, who fell to 11-1 on the season and 7-1 in the Foothills Council. The Tartans still maintain a one game lead over the Rams in the South Division. The two teams will meet again on January 24 at Scotia- Glenville High School. Next up for the Running Rams is a trip to Schuylerville on Friday. Varsity tip time is scheduled for 7:30pm.
For the record:
The longest win streak in NYSPHSAA boys basketball is 104 games set by Bellville High School of Section 3 from 1966-1971.
The longest overall win streak in high school basketball was set by the Baskin High School women’s team from 1948-1953. The Baskin ‘Lady Rams’ of Baskin, Louisiana won 218 consecutive games. A record that still stands to this day.
