Mount Vernon Does it Again

As competitive as basketball is in Section 1, one powerhouse school seems to claim the section championship every year. The funny thing is; they actually do. Mount Vernon defeated Poughkeepsie 64-58 to win their 6th straight Class AA section championship, which is a Section 1 record. They have won 28 section titles in the school’s history, and have now won four straight title games against Poughkeepsie. Superstar senior guard Jabarie Hinds, who is headed to West Virginia University next year, won his 5th section title, a section record for a player. Hinds was held to 9 points because of foul trouble, but was able to put his stamp on the game with a monster dunk over Poughkeepsie’s Jermar Dancy. Hinds was also fouled on the play.
6’6” senior forward Jamell Walker had 15 points and 10 rebounds, including 10 points and 9 rebounds in the 2nd half, and was named MVP of the tournament. Another senior, Damani Ashton, stepped up big time with 15 points with three–pointers. Head coach Bob Cimmino made sure that some younger talent got some experience on the grand stage at the Westchester County Center, including sophomore Joshua Doughty, who hit a key shot late and played lockdown defense.
Poughkeepsie was led by the superstar senior forward, Nate Gause, who finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Gause hit several key shots down the stretch in the Pioneers’ late rally, and also had 3 rim-rocking slam dunks in the game. Classmate Elijah McLaurin finished with 15 points and 5 assists.
Poughkeepsie was awarded 2 free-throws and the ball to start the game after Mount Vernon received a technical foul for dunking in warm-ups. Nevertheless, the Knights stormed out to an 18-8 lead. When Hinds sat for the entire 2nd quarter with 2 fouls, McLaurin led a comeback by knocking down jumpers and tightening up on defense. Poughkeepsie was eventually able to take a one-point lead in the 4th quarter, but Walker and the Knights dominated the rebounding battle, and Mount Vernon took home yet another gold ball. The Knights dedicated the win to Marquis Abney, a former player who died recently in a car crash.
Mount Vernon advances to the regional semifinals, where they will take on rival Newburgh Free Academy on Tuesday in the County Center. The Knights and the Goldbacks have faced off in 4 straight seasons, with the Knights winning in ’07 and ’08, and Newburgh winning the last two seasons. In ’09, Newburgh won 61-60 on a halfcourt buzzer-beater by Will Bouton, and went on to win a state title. In ’10, the Goldbacks held Hinds to 5 points and 4 fouls in their win over Mount Vernon. Hinds must step up in order to beat NFA this season, and the Knights must improve on their 7 for 21 free-throw shooting against Poughkeepsie. Mount Vernon seems to be on a mission once again, and Hinds is hungry for revenge as this season’s Knight’s try to stake their place in Mount Vernon lore.