20th annual Slam Dunk Tournament tips off Wednesday

By Kevin Devaney Jr. on December 19, 2018 • ( 1 Comment )

The defending Federation champions. A potential rematch of a state title game. And arguably the best team in the Tri-State.

Those are just some of the headlines entering the 20th annual Slam Dunk Tournament this week at the Westchester County Center. The four-day, 15-game event gets underway on Wednesday with a tripleheader.

The tournament features two boys brackets, one girls tournament and three challenge games. Ossining and Baldwin girls are line to meet in the final after competing in the Class AA state championship last year. The second boys tournament on Friday-Saturday could produce one of the most highly-anticipated games of season with Stepinac and Long Island Lutheran potentially meeting after their highly-controversial Federation semifinal game.

VIDEO: Stepinac stuns LuHi in Federation semis

VIDEO: Stepinac movie – Crusade for the City

Archbishop Stepinac HS became the first team from Westchester County to ever claim the CHSAA ‘AA’ city championship.

This "Crusade For The City" mini-doc chronicles last season's historic run. @step_basketball pic.twitter.com/PdijnheJHm
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 27, 2018

Find all information about the teams, schedule, brackets and much more on the tournament’s official website: slamdunkny.com

Follow the entire tournament on Twitter: @SlamDunkNewYork and on Instagram: SlamDunkNewYork

Here’s a inside look at Wednesday’s games:

Wednesday, December 19

Girls challenge game: Ursuline vs. Rye, 4:30 p.m.: The reigning Section 1 Class A champion Garnets are off to a 4-0 start after capturing their tournament title over the weekend. Ursuline, led by Sonia Cintron and Vermont commit Jane McCauley, beat West Genessee on Sunday at Lourdes and must find a way to slow down Rye star Teaghan Flaherty.

Team page/roster: Rye girls

Boys tournament: White Plains vs. Newburgh, 6:15 p.m.: White Plains is out to a 5-1 start behind the sharp-shooting Eisaiah Murphy and up-and-comers Tymir Greene and Quain Burns. Newburgh beat Pine Bush to improve to 3-0 as point guard Percy Smith had 16 points and 5 assists.

Team page/roster: Newburgh Free Academy
Team page/roster: White Plains

Boys Tournament: Iona Prep vs. Byram Hills, 8 p.m.: The spotlight game of Day 1 features a young Iona Prep team that’s clawed to a solid 3-2 start. Aidan Hilderbrand is one of the area’s top stars for the Gaels, which could struggle against a Byram team that features more team size than any other in the Hudson Valley. Ben Leff, a 6-7 forward who recently committed to NYU, is joined inside by 6-6 senior Mike Caporale, who has the added motivation of facing the school he transferred from this summer.

Team page/roster: Byram Hills
Team page/roster: Iona Prep

VIDEO PREVIEWS:

Iona Prep

The 20th annual Slam Dunk is 11 days away. @IonaPrepBBall won in dramatic fashion on Friday night. They Gaels are rising. Hear from them here:@IonaPrepBBall

Slam Dunk: https://t.co/rJk1HfySyQ
Date: Dec. 19-22
Where: Westchester County Center@WestchesterPark pic.twitter.com/bMP4hKXxbp
— SlamDunkNY (@SlamDunkNewYork) December 9, 2018

Byram Hills

Byram Hills is aiming for a Slam Dunk Tournament title in two weeks at the County Center.

Hear from. @willy_samsen @BenLeff as @ByramAthletics is off a 2-0 start to the season

Visit: https://t.co/frGbreH87t
Dec. 19-22 pic.twitter.com/EWQysWivr4
— SlamDunkNY (@SlamDunkNewYork) December 6, 2018

Next: The winners of the boys games will square off on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the tournament final. The losers will play at 6:15 p.m. Full tournament bracket here: