Box Score (Pemberton, NJ) - Men's Basketball has existed at Westchester Community College for the better part of 80 years. Where the 2017-18 season is different for this storied program is that, for the first time ever, the Vikings enter what will undoubtedly be the final game of the season having not been outscored by an opponent at any point. While this accomplishment is incredible by any measure, Saturday's game at Rowan College - Burlington Country proved one thing about the run the Vikings are enjoying ... finishing what they started is not going to be easy. Five Vikings scored in double figures as Westchester CC held off a feisty RCBC squad that gave WCC everything they could handle, 98-94 on Saturday at RCBC.
With the win, Westchester Community College has played 25 games, and outscored their opponent in every one of them.
The win sets up an interesting scenario on Tuesday night for WCC's season finale. If they are going to complete the journey and end their first season on the court in three years without being outscored by an opponent, they are going to have to do so at Bergen Community College -- the same Bergen Community College where Westchester Community College Head Coach
Sean Kelly patrolled the sidelines during a historic run that included NJCAA Final Four appearances in 2009 and 2010. Oh, and by the way, Kelly's 2009-10 team finished the regular season without being outscored by an opponent.
On Saturday, it was a game of 'Tres' as WCC earned the win with a barrage of three-pointers early, and late-game heroics by
Tremaine Fraiser (Port Chester, NY/Trinity Catholic) to fend off the Barons. Eight times during the first half of play, WCC converted a three-pointer, including four by
Pierre Lys (Greenburgh, NY/Woodlands HS). For the game, the Vikings hit 11 three-pointers.
However, the issue was still in doubt throughout the second half. Westchester led 56-39 at halftime thanks in large part to their success from long-distance, but the second half was a different story as RCBC simply would not allow the Vikings to win with the three-pointer. As the game got closer, Fraiser and
Raykwon Fenton (Bronx, NY/Holcombe Rucker HS) did everything in their power to hold off the hosts. Fraiser finished the game with 19 points - including 10 during the second half, while Fenton had a team-high 23 points, 10 of which came during the final 20 minutes. The game did not end in Westchester's favor, however, until Fraiser refused to miss three late free throws to keep Westchester ahead for good.
Lys finished with 16 points,
Maxx Miller (White Plains, NY/Mount Saint Michael) added 10 points, and
Gabriel Cruz (Bronx, NY/In-Tech Academy) turned in another fine effort with 19 points.
If Westchester Community College is going to finish what they started during the 2017-18 season, it will happen on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Bergen Community College. The game will begin at 7:00 p.m. after the WCC women face the Bulldogs.