Peekskill’s varsity boys basketball team is one game away from returning to the Westchester County Center. No. 5 ranked Poughkeepsie is the only obstacle standing in their way.
For the second year in a row, Peekskill (No.4) will take on Poughkeepsie in the quarterfinals of the Section 1 Class AA tournament.
In the 2023-24 season, Peekskill overcame Poughkeepsie in the quarters, which secured them a spot at the County Center for the first time in a decade. On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Red Devils will hope to once again get the better of the Poughkeepsie Pioneers when the two sides clash at 6:30 p.m. at Peekskill High School’s gymnasium.
To say Poughkeepsie has had a hectic couple of weeks would be an understatement. On Feb. 13, Poughkeepsie finished the regular season with a win over Brewster, extending their win streak to four games.
One day later, the Poughkeepsie athletic community was rocked with news that head coach Cody Moffett would not be returning for the basketball postseason. According to published reports, Moffett has been placed on administrative leave and is currently the subject of a police investigation regarding a false report allegedly made to Child Protective Services against a parent in the Poughkeepsie City School District.
Despite the sudden departure of Moffett, the Poughkeepsie basketball team was able pull off a victory over Clarkstown North, 59-45, in the first round of sectionals. At this game, players and fans wore “Moff” shirts in solidarity with the former coach. The team is expected to be led by assistant coach Jimmy Weldon for Thursday’s game.
Poughkeepsie will enter the quarterfinals motivated to win and prove that outside factors will not affect their performance on the court. But it won’t be easy for Poughkeepsie. The Red Devils are unlikely to give them an easy path to the semifinals, as proved in their first encounter this season. On Feb.1, Peekskill strolled past Poughkeepsie, picking up a 60-39 win at home.
When reached by the Peekskill Herald, Peekskill senior Jaden Chavis said the team’s morale was high going into Thursday’s season-defining game. “We’re feeling very confident. We had a really strong week of practice and understanding the game plan. We know what we have to do to win the game.”
On the road to the quarterfinals, Peekskill beat John Jay Cross River, 62-38, in the first round of sectionals. In that game, Chavis and Isaiah Crawford each dropped 15 points.
Chavis and Crawford were recently named in a list of All-Section honorees by the Lower Hudson Basketball Coaches Association. In addition, Peekskill junior Darius Smythe was named an All-Conference player for the 2024-25 season.
“It felt pretty good because I work hard and put in the extra hours. It was definitely a great accomplishment and another thing to add to my resume as my career ends here,” said Chavis of the recent sectional honor.
One Poughkeepsie player that may cause Peekskill some problems is senior guard Kaiden Birdsong (#3). Don’t let his 5’6” stature confuse you: Birdsong is not a player the Red Devils should take lightly. Birdsong, who was recently named an All-Conference player, has led his team to several victories this season. In their most recent win over Clarkstown North, Birdsong looked extremely dangerous and contributed with 18 points.
Whoever wins Thursday’s game will face the winner of Tappan Zee (No.1) vs Harrison (No.9) in the semifinals of sectionals on Tuesday, March 4, at the Westchester County Center.
For those who want to attend Thursday’s game, the Peekskill City School District has announced that doors will open at 6 p.m. Seating and parking is expected to be at capacity. Bags and/or sports equipment will not be permitted in the high school for this game.
Thursday’s game will be streamed on Local Live. The district is expected to password-protect the game following its conclusion, so if you want to see it, be sure to watch it live.
Girls Basketball season review
Last week, Peekskill’s girls basketball season came to an end with a 68-22 loss to Brewster in an outbracket sectional game.
Coach Nyrie Holliman, who has been in charge of the Peekskill girls since last season, provided the Herald with an open letter following the season’s conclusion.
“As the season comes to an end, I couldn’t be prouder of the growth and resilience my team has shown. Coming into the year with only five returning players, three girls moving up from modified due to the absence of a JV team, and six players with little to no experience, we knew this would be a season of learning and development. Despite the challenges, this group exceeded my expectations.
Although our final record was 6-14, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Six of our losses were highly competitive games, showing that we have the potential to turn those into wins as we continue to develop our skills and team chemistry in the offseason. We had players step up in big moments, gaining confidence along the way. More importantly, we faced adversity head-on, stayed positive, and supported one another, which helped strengthen the bonds both on and off the court.
This season laid the foundation for something special. With hard work, dedication, and a continued focus on growth, I have no doubt that this team will come back stronger next year and build on what we started. I’m excited to see what the future holds for this group of young athletes.
Thank you,
Nyrie Holliman
