From February 3-5, more than 1,000 fencers from the United States, Mexico and Canada gathered outside of Washington D.C. for the largest youth fencing competition in history. Scarsdale was represented by Scarsdale Middle Schooler Jared Sugarman, age 12, and Polly Adler, age 10, from Edgewood Elementary School.

Jared Sugarman, a seventh grader, placed 20 out of 101 fencers in Y12MF and finished 45 out of 103 in Y14MF. Jared started fencing at age 6. He fences at Westchester Fencing Academy (FAW) in Hawthorne for three hours on Fridays and Saturdays and two hours on Sundays throughout the year, unless he is in a competition either locally or out of state. He has competed in many super regional and national tournaments. Jared spends several weeks each summer at Cornell Fencing Camp. He really enjoys the competition and appreciates the merits of an individual sport. At a very young age he has worked hard and demonstrated commitment. Jared is currently ranked twelfth in the United States for Y12MF and is looking forward to the U.S. Summer Nationals in Anaheim, CA where he will see many of the new friends he made through fencing.

Polly Adler, a fifth grader, captured a silver medal at the tournmanet, beating out 30 other competitors in Y10WF. Ms. Adler went on to finish 6th in a pool of 71 fencers for Y12WF. She will represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Mexico in May. Polly trains in New York City at Fencers Club. She is also one of the youngest licensed fencing (foil) referees in the United States. Adopted from China, Polly is working toward participating in the 2013 Junior Olympics and gaining a seat on the U.S. National Team. She is ranked 6th in the United States for Y10WF and 15th for Y12WF. Over the summer Polly will be teaching fencing skills to Inuit native children in Alaska, as well as attending summer camp in Mexico.

The Raiders played their last away game of the regular season on Tuesday, February 6 at Mt. Vernon where they faced off against the two-time defending state champion Knights. As the Raiders entered the gym they could see all the championship banners that hung all over the walls, a very daunting sight. For eleven out of the past twelve years, the Knights have won the Section 1 title

In attendance at the game was Virginia Tech’s head coach, Seth Greenberg, who was there to give Mr. Vernon’s Isaiah Cousins’ a scholarship offer to play for him next season.

Starting point-guard Quadere Lovell could not play because he was required to serve a one- game suspension after being ejected when the Knights played against Mamaroneck on Saturday.

With all of this in mind, the Raiders entered the game with nothing lose. After 45 seconds of play the score was 2-2, with Isaiah Cousins and Aleks Larsen trading buckets. Sadly for the raiders, this would be the last time all game that the score would be tied. The first half was highlighted by an emphatic dunk by Mount Vernon’s Randy Stephens over Scarsdale’s Andrew Crean. By the end of the half the score was 45-9.

The second half went slightly better for the Raiders, and they were also able to get good experience for everyone on their roster. The final score of the game was Mount Vernon 79, Scarsdale 26. Brandon Martin of Mount Vernon led all scorers with 17, and Cousins was able to score 14. Peter Simon led the Raiders in scoring with 6.

Now the focus is turned to the Raiders’ final game of the regular season against Mamaroneck at home on Friday at 4:15.

On Saturday, February 4, the Raiders played their last home game against the Port Chester Rams (1-12 entering the game) in the final game of Breast Cancer Awareness day. Earlier that day, the freshman team faced off against Harrison and then the JV team played against Port Chester. All players from all six teams were given pink shoelaces to show their support for the cause.

Scarsdale came into the game with a sense of urgency. Although they had already clinched a playoff berth, with only five wins it seemed likely that they would have to play perennial powerhouse Mount Vernon, who is going for their third straight New York State championship. Another factor that added to their must- win mentality was that last year, when the Raiders faced the Rams, the Rams left their gym with a victory.

The game started and a minute later the score was already 10-2, with the Raiders leading. Scarsdale’s defense looked strong throughout the rest of that quarter. Tim Brown, Port Chester’s left-handed center seemed to be the only person that could penetrate the tight 2-3 zone. The quarter ended with Scarsdale senior, Jeff Schwartz hitting a deep 3- point shot at that buzzer, leaving the score at 21-11.

In the second quarter, Aleks Larsen, Andrew Crean and Greg Scacchi all showed their scoring ability, displaying an arsenal of outside, mid-range and inside scoring. By the end of the second, the Raiders also found a way to stop Tim Brown, and in turn led Scarsdale to only give up 6 points that quarter. At the half, the score was 37-17.

In the third quarter, all of the seniors got into the game, and were able to extend the lead to 52-38. The only junior who played in the first three quarters was Alex Squadron, as this would be the last home game the seniors would ever play.

In the fourth quarter the rest of the team got in the game and showed promise. Robert Plummer, Jon Cohen and Jack Hewitt never entered due to injuries.

The final score was 67-37. Aleks Larsen led all scorers with 15. Andrew Crean and Greg Scacchi each added 13 points.

Scarsdale’s next game is this Tuesday at Mount Vernon High School, and then they wrap up their regular season against rival, Mamaroneck on Friday at 4:15.

The Scarsdale Raiders had great hopes of defeating their rival the Mamaroneck Tigers on Tuesday January 31 at Mamaroneck. And for the first three quarters of the game, the Raiders lead – at times by a full ten points.  At the onset of the game, Scarsdale was focused on stopping Mamaroneck’s three top players, Mezansky, McMullin and Lanni. Team Captain Matt Mezansky, who has played Varsity since he was a sophomore, is considered one of the best point guards in Section 1. At Tuesday’s game, he proved himself again, and was the Tiger’s top scorer with 21 points. Scarsdale was more successful at defending against Gerry McMullin who scored 12 and stopping center Alex Lanni.

Scarsdale looked confident at the opening and dominated play in all three quarters, working together to defend their basket and making some great skip passes to penetrate against Mamaroneck’s 1-3-1 defense.

The contest was heated and the teams passed down the court from basket to basket at a dizzying speed. The gym was packed with Tiger fans who chanted, screamed and rocked the bleachers. But their enthusiasm was not enough to drive their team, at least in the first three quarters.

Nearing the end of the first quarter the score was close at 12-11 in favor of Scarsdale when Greg Scacchi grabbed the ball and scored an impressive three-pointer, leaving Scarsdale in the lead at 15-11.

At the opening of the second quarter, junior Jon Cohen was subbed in for point guard Alex Squadron and made a quick basket. Mamaroneck was successful at making two foul shots and then Jack Hewitt stole the ball and scored within 40 seconds of the half. Again Mamaroneck was fouled and scored 2 points and with only a few second left Scacchi got hold of the ball and scored, leaving the tally at 26-20 at the half.

The Raiders also held their own in the third quarter with baskets scored by Crean, and Hewitt. Junior Tyler Nathan was subbed in with only 2 second left and passed the ball to Hewitt who laid it up and put Scarsdale ahead by ten points at the end of the third.

Even at the beginning of the fourth quarter it looked like the game would be a victory for Scarsdale. Scacchi grabbed the ball under the basket and passed it outside to Squadron who hit a floater, retaining the teams ten point lead.

But suddenly, with around 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, everything changed. The refs repeatedly called fouls on the Scarsdale players giving Mamaroneck the chance to make up the score in foul shots. Scarsdale fought hard to maintain their lead, but the refs called foul after foul –and eventually the score was tied at 39. With 1:50 on the clock, Mamaroneck scored and pulled out ahead at 39-41. Hewitt was fouled and hit one free throw, missing the second and bringing the tally to 40-41 with 21 seconds left. Both teams called several time outs in the closing seconds of the game. In the final 8 seconds, Scarsdale’s Jon Miller was given possession of the ball for a throw in, stepped out of bounds and a foul was called. Mamaroneck again scored on a foul shot and won the game 40 to 42.

The volume in the gym was deafening as Tiger fans cheered their team on and reveled in the turnaround. The Raiders, who thought a win was in sight, were left stunned by the loss.