Knights are Gold again, begin state title quest (video)

By Kevin Devaney Jr. on March 5, 2018 • ( 3 Comments )

Cinderella showed up late Pace University on Saturday afternoon. And Mount Vernon showed her a quick exit.

Ramapo, the highest seed to ever play for a Section 1 championship at No. 18, had travel restrictions bus following Friday’s storm, preventing them from driving over the Tappan Zee Bridge. The team bus instead had to go over the Bear Mountain Bridge, forcing them to arrive at Pace University for the Class AA final an hour later than expects.

Mount Vernon was there waiting. And the Knights were ready.

Jason Douglas-Stanley and Demetre Roberts smashed Ramapo’s slipper quickly and led the defending NYSPHSAA Class AA champs to a dominant 75-50 win over the Gryphons.

It was the second title in a row for Mount Vernon, 16th in 20 years and 33rd all-time (including the 1962 A.B. Davis championship).

“Ramapo was having a great season and was playing really good basketball,” Douglas-Stanley said. “We had a good scouting report coming into the game. We knew that if we worked hard in practice and executed, we should be ok.”

HIGHLIGHTS: Mount Vernon 91, Horace Greeley 80 – Section 1 semifinals

FINAL SCOREBOARD: Section 1 Boys and Girls Basketball Results, Schedules (KDJMedia)

BRACKET CENTRAL: Section 1 Boys and Girls Basketball Brackets (PDF and Interactive)

Douglas-Stanley scored 30 points with three steals and three assists to earn MVP honors for Mount Vernon (22-2). Sophomore big man Troy Hupstead added 16 points and 13 rebounds and Roberts scored 12 with six assists and four steals.

“We got another Gold Ball home. This is my third,” said Douglas-Stanley, who’ll play next season at George Mason. “We are going to celebrate this but we want to get back to states. This is a nice accomplishment. But we want more.”

Mount Vernon will next play on Friday at Pace University in the NYSPHSAA Class AA regional championship. The Knights will face either Section 9 champion

Anthony Simon led Ramapo with 11 points and Elijah Fenton had 10 points and seven rbeounds.

Ramapo’s incredible run to the Section 1 title game won’t soon be forgotten. I detailed it all here as the No. 18 seed pulled off three road upsets and a jaw-dropping OT win over Mamaroneck in the semis at the County Center.