Spackenkill’s Second Half Resurgence Lifts Spartans Over Highland

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. - Right from the noon tipoff, Spackenkill came out sluggish, only scoring seven points in the first half.

In the second half, they completely flipped the switch, as they quickly became energized to help them propel to a 35-31 overtime victory over Highland High School.

“We thought we played hard at the start but couldn’t score,” head coach Matt Hoyt said. “Because of that, I think we got down on ourselves a little bit. We didn’t have that same energy that we usually play with today, I didn’t feel like we didn’t have it for most of the first half."

Spackenkill only had three field goals in the first eight minutes.

“The message was: Hey man, we have to take some pride in playing basketball, a game that people are getting shut down because of COVID. We have an opportunity to play, we’re never getting this one back, it’s on us to find energy,” Hoyt said he told his team at the halftime break. 

That spark was ignited in the second half, as Spackenkill came out and had a 7-0 run early in the second half thanks to an Anthony Hoyt three, an Antonio Lopez midrange jumper and a Steven Ciancio layup.

“We’re down at half, and then all of the sudden now it’s a ballgame,” Hoyt said of the second half run. “You hit one shot and all of the sudden the guys feel confident… Now it’s like, alright, we’re in this, let’s go play.”

Spackenkill sophomore Nasir Snell finished with eight points, five of them coming in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“He’s a tremendous talent,” Hoyt said.”The kid’s really talented, I’m excited to have him for a couple more years after this…When his shot was there, he took it, and did a good job of putting it down for us.”

Antoinio Lopez also had eight points; Steven Ciancio and Anthony Hoyt both had seven for the Spartans.

Highland’s Aidan Wiser had a game-high 17 points.

The Huskies are now 1-5 on the season. They will play John Jay - East Fishkill Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.

Spackenkill will take on FDR Tuesday at noon. They are now 4-3 on the season.

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