Panas Outlasts Yorktown In Thriller

Tim McCauley bagged 3-pointers, penetrated the teeth of Yorktown’s defense, and hunted for his shot amidst swarming hands and envelope-tight pressure.

Through ties, lead changes, a viable third quarter shootout, spurts of aggression, and a mad scramble for a loose ball with 46 seconds remaining, McCauley’s focus never dwindled.

“We came in here fired up since it was senior night,” said McCauley, who torched the Huskers for a game-high 26 points, including a pair of free throws to cement Panas’ 49-46 win.

Yorktown had chances to send the game into overtime, but 3-pointers misfired as time ran out in a pulsating Panas victory.

As a constant war of words between two vociferous fan bases mirrored the game's ramped up intensity, McCauley never lost his nose for the net.

Yorktown, winners of four out of their last five, was hell-bent on neutralizing the Panthers, which shot them out of their own gym during a 63-50 mid-January win.

In the third quarter, the Huskers came into the Wild, Wild, West shootout with nothing short of a rifle.

Reserve forward Nick Delbene nailed 3-of-4 from beyond the arc during that eight-minute stretch, revving up an ecstatic CROP fan base. Delbene fed a cutting Mason Dyslin, who deposited the layup and knotted it at 40-all with 3:26 remaining in the third.

Panas regained the lead as—surprise, surprise—McCauley pulled up for a deep jumper and connected on a free throw.

ch, revving up an ecstatic CROP fan base. Delbene fed a cutting Mason Dyslin, who deposited the layup and knotted it at 40-all with 3:26 remaining in the third.

Panas regained the lead as—surprise, surprise—McCauley pulled up for a deep jumper and connected on a free throw.

Yorktown answered, as Michael Nardone’s 3-pointer knotted it 43-43 with 6:56 remaining in the fourth.

Collins and Tyler Mason knocked back 3-of-4  free throws and Panas’ defensive grit surfaced the final three minutes.

Yorktown had opportunities to shut the door and send the game into overtime, but a few free throws clanked off the back rim and a few good, clean looks wouldn’t fall.

“Our rotations were rough in the first half and we weren’t rebounding too well,” said Tyler Mason, a presence on the boards and key ingredient for Panas’ rim protection.

“In the second half, we were able to play team defense. This is our home court and we have to live up to expectations. We’ve been able to overcome adversity and that’s what makes us a good team. We need to keep the momentum rolling heading into the playoffs.”

With Trey Hodge, who recently signed his letter of intent to play football at Central Connecticut State (New Britain, CT), limited with second half foul trouble, Mason's presence was key.

He picked off a pass, ball-hawking like a safety as the Panthers’ eliminated a pivotal Yorktown possession in the waning minutes. Yorktown got back-to-back free throws, 2-of-4 from Ricky Corrado and Delbene, cutting it to 46-45 with 2:17 left.

McCauley drew another foul and knocked back 1-of-2. Panthers coach Shawn Sullivan then called a timeout with 1:59 remaining, imploring his team to ratchet up the swarming, in-your-chest defense.

Huskers sophomore Luis Cartagena was a veritable one-man machete in the first half, carving his way to the rim. He scored nine of Yorktown’s 12 first quarter points.

Cartagena entered the hostile confines of Walter Panas with a price on his head. The 5-foot-10 off guard hadn't dipped under 18 points in two weeks.

The first quarter played out much like a one-on-one battle between Cartagena and McCauley, who scored 16 first half points.

Cartagena unveiled a nifty behind-the-back move, shredding up two defenders as the Huskers sliced Panas' lead to 21-18 in the first half. The Panthers counterpunched, as Mike Evans buried a jumper to stretch the lead back to five.

Cartagena paced the Huskers with 13 points.

 Dyslin (nine points) a versatile 6-foot-5 forward, supplied power-up buckets. 

Delbene may have been without his weapon of choice, the lacrosse stick (he's committed to Towson). 

Nevertheless, the southpaw was able to stick three loud 3-pointers.

An unlikely source, Delbene's shooting spree helped the Huskers seize a third quarter lead. 

Employed primarily as a spark off the bench, Delbene finished with 10 points.

McCauley entered this renewed rivalry tilt with a price on his head.

 The 6-foot-1 guard, known for a controversial game-winning floater that beat Peekskill at the buzzer, again lit up the Red Devils for 25 in a recent Red Devils sweep.

On Friday night, one would think Peekskill was out there on the hardwood.

That’s how rowdy the two crowds were, sustaining the venom throughout.

The two rowdy and hard-hitting fan bases traded chants and engaged in constant verbal warfare.

It was reminiscent of the epic Mookie Jones/Lawrence Ekperigin battles from back in the day, when emotions were sky-high and tension sparked havoc.

Panas and Yorktown officials agreed to handle crowd control in the most appropriate, confrontation-free method possible, sending Yorktown’s crowd out while the Panther faithful waited it out, exiting several minutes later.