GAME OF THE WEEK: TACONIC HILLS vs. CATSKILL

Greg Dedrick
ccSCOOP Sports

01-11-10 - 8:00 a.m. - With just one win entering their Friday trip to Catskill, Taconic Hills could have just lain down to the Cats, who sit in fourth place in the Patroon Conference, but that was not the case.  Despite falling behind by double digits after a quarter, the Titans never gave up and pulled within 10 down the stretch, but they could not close the gap, falling 77-59.

Facing the high-scoring Cats, the Titans needed to come up with a big defensive effort, and they looked sharp early on, picking up steals on Catskill’s first four possessions. The Titans even got on the board first when Chris Filli scored down low for a 2-0 lead. After that Titans' hoop, the Cats went on a 9-0 run to take some of the wind out of the Titans sails.  Dylan Dotterer knocked down a jumper as the shot clock expired on one trip, and Mike Jacobsen converted 1 of 2 from the free-throw line for the Titans only other points of the quarter, and they fell behind 19-5 after eight minutes of play.

In the second quarter, the Titans' defense struggled to contain the Cats' high-powered offense. Catskill pushed their lead into the 20s, but the Titans finished the half strong. With time winding down, Dotterer drove for a hoop for Taconic Hills and Kyle Preusser stole the ensuing inbounds and laid it in. After a quick 4-point spurt by Catskill, Dotterer scored again inside, and the Titans stole the ball. Jacobsen was fouled behind the arch with under a second remaining but hit just one of three free throws, and the Titans went into the half down 40-22.

The third quarter played out much like the second, with both teams putting up a lot of points—20 and 18 respectively.  Catskill pushed its lead back to 20 and seemed firmly in control heading into the final eight minutes.

Catskill scored the first 3 points of the fourth before the Titans started to battle back. Filli powered in a hoop inside before snagging an offensive rebound, scoring, and drawing a foul on the next possession. Filli converted the free throw, and the Titans were playing hard. Clarence Scott came off the bench and buried a three-pointer to slice the lead to 15 with five minutes to play. 

The Cats scored on a fast break before Taconic Hills picked up a quick 4 points and followed that up with a big three by Justin Campbell. With the deficit down to 10 and 3:23 left to play, Scott stole the ball and was fouled and sent to the line for a one-and-one and a chance to cut the deficit to single digits. Scott missed the free throw, the Cats took possession and never looked back.

Clarence Scott hit two three-pointers off the bench and sparked the Titans with a team-high 13 points in the loss. Dylan Dotterer made six shots from the field and finished with 12 points, while Mike Jacobsen finished with 11 points and a pair of assists. Chris Filli battled inside to the tune of 10 points. Nick Warren added 5, while Kyle Preusser and Justin Campbell each chipped in with 3. Dylan Decker added 2. Preusser and Decker each dished out four assists in the loss.

The Titans will return to action Tuesday, when they host Columbia County and Patroon Conference foe Chatham, who beat them by 34 earlier this season. On Saturday, the Titans will square off with undefeated Maple Hill at Saint Rose.