UPDATE: The Hermon Hawks have secured their spot at the top of Class B North with a decisive 60-47 victory over the Cony Rams on January 16, 2024. This win is monumental, especially considering the Rams entered the game with a prolific offense, averaging over 70 points per game.
Hermon’s strong defensive strategy stifled Cony’s scoring ability, forcing them to play at a slower pace. The Rams, who had only lost one other game this season, struggled to adjust, marking a significant shift in their recent performance. Coach Mark Reed praised his team’s resilience, stating, “I’m really proud of my kids and the toughness they played with tonight.”
The game kicked off with a tight first quarter, ending in a 10-10 tie. Hermon took a narrow lead at halftime, 21-18, and then surged ahead in the third quarter with key plays from Mason Kinney and Carter Wiggin, who led all scorers with 23 points.
In a notable moment, Kinney’s offensive rebound and subsequent basket pushed the Hawks to a 39-31 lead before the final quarter, a gap that expanded to as much as 15 points as they maintained control in the closing minutes.
On the other side, freshman Carter Brathwaite led Cony with 16 points, but Coach Isaiah Brathwaite acknowledged that Hermon’s strategy was effective in limiting their scoring opportunities. “They sucked the air out of the ball on offense,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of tempo control.
Hermon now stands at 8-1 atop the Class B North standings, a position they intend to defend as the season progresses. The Hawks’ ability to grind out wins with disciplined play is becoming their trademark, a strategy that other teams will need to adapt to moving forward.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Hawks to see if they can maintain their winning momentum and how Cony will respond to this setback. Coach Brathwaite remains optimistic for his team, stating, “We’ve got a lot of growing up to do,” as they look to rekindle their offensive firepower in upcoming games.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story in the high school basketball scene.
