Boys Basketball

Peekskill came out firing at home on Jan. 14, building an early cushion before withstanding a fourth-quarter comeback from Carmel to earn a 62-58 victory, just its second win of the season.

The Red Devils couldn’t have scripted a better start. Darius Smythe opened the scoring with a strong drive to the basket, and Peekskill quickly raced to a 9-0 lead behind crisp ball movement and aggressive defense. AJ Jenkins drilled an early three, Titus Matthias converted at the line, and Joseph Walker turned a steal into an easy layup as Peekskill’s transition game overwhelmed Carmel. The Red Devils led 17-8 after one quarter.

Peekskill extended the margin in the second with continued pressure defense and fast-break opportunities. Jah Williams and Smythe both scored off turnovers, and Jenkins buried his second three to push the lead to 22-9. At one point, Peekskill held a commanding 32-11 advantage before Carmel began to respond. Connor Murphy sparked the Rams with a three-pointer, and Colin Sullivan added a strong drive as Carmel closed the half on a 14-3 run to cut the deficit to 35-25.

Carmel carried that momentum into the third quarter, trimming the lead to as little as seven behind another Murphy three and a quick transition basket. Smythe and Williams answered to steady Peekskill, and the Red Devils took a 48-41 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle. Carmel continued to chip away and eventually tied the game at 58-58 on a Dylan Sullivan three with 1:41 remaining. Peekskill stayed composed, however, as Walker found Williams on a hard drive for the go-ahead layup. The Red Devils closed out the final seconds to secure the 62-58 home win.

Smythe led Peekskill with 21 points, while Williams added 13 and Jenkins chipped in 12. The victory improves the Red Devils to 2-6 and provides a much-needed boost in confidence. Peekskill returns to action Friday, Jan. 23, at home against Roosevelt at 5 p.m. The Red Devils will also host Brewster on Monday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m. for Senior Night.

Girls Basketball

The Red Devils were overwhelmed on the road, falling 62-23 to Port Chester on Jan. 14. Peekskill scored 10 points in the first quarter but trailed 21-10 after one. The girls managed just 13 points over the remainder of the game, playing from behind throughout a one-sided contest. Alani Jacobs and Nai’lah Smalls each scored six points for Peekskill.

Now 4-6 overall, the Red Devils enter a busy stretch of their schedule. They travel to The Leffell School in Hartsdale on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off, then remain on the road for a matchup at Roosevelt (Yonkers) on Friday, Jan. 23, at 4:30 p.m. Peekskill returns home on Monday, Jan. 26, to host Port Chester in a rematch at 4:45 p.m.

Wrestling

Gamdiel Casiano (110 pounds), Joan Cruz (144), Stephen Cordero (175), Darnell Hinton (190), and Rocco D’Elia (215) each earned victories by pin as Peekskill edged Yonkers, 42-37, in a dual meet on Jan. 13.

Two days later, on Jan. 15, the Red Devils dropped a 58-17 home decision to Mahopac. D’Elia (215) recorded a win by fall at 3:19, while Juan Naranjo (150) posted a 10-0 major decision and Cordero (175) added a 17-5 major decision. Yamliel Casiano (144) also contributed a 16-11 decision victory.

Peekskill will travel to Tappan Zee (Orangeburg) for its next dual meet on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 4:30 p.m.

Indoor Track

Peekskill competed at the Suffern Invitational at Rockland Community College on Jan. 16. Gregory Tompkins III led the boys’ squad with a fourth-place finish in the 300-meter dash, clocking 39.14 seconds. He also placed 14th in the 55-meter dash preliminaries with a time of 7.19. Oscar Curillo finished 18th in the 1,600-meter run in 5:11.93.

On the girls’ side, Amanda Nelson placed 29th in the 55-meter dash preliminaries with a time of 8.45, while Valeria Otavalo finished 31st in the 1,000-meter run, posting a time of 3:49.55.

The Red Devils returned to action on Jan. 19 at the Section 1 League Championships #4 at The Armory in New York City. Curillo led the boys with a fourth-place finish in the 1,000-meter run (2:57.61) and added a sixth-place showing in the 1,600-meter run (5:05.90). Tompkins finished eighth in the 300-meter dash with a time of 38.91.

For the girls, Nelson placed 10th in the 55-meter dash preliminaries, running 8.29, while Otavalo finished seventh in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 3:52.25.

Peekskill will next compete at the Westchester County Championships on Jan. 24 at 6 p.m., followed by a Novice meet on Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. Both meets will be held at The Armory Track & Field Center in New York City.

Boys Swimming 

On Jan. 14, Peekskill hosted Ossining/Croton and fell, 52-34. Several Red Devils recorded personal and season-best performances: Erick Morocho, Alex Ninan, Marcello Rossi, and Alex Velasco posted a time of 2:12.69 in the 200 medley relay. Justin Vizhnay recorded a personal best in the 200 freestyle (2:51.70). Velasco, Morocho, and Jeam Ilaquiche competed in the 50 freestyle. Ninan posted a personal best in the 100 butterfly (1:15.29), Vizhnay and Gael Toapanta did the same in the 100 freestyle, Morocho swam the 100 backstroke in 1:16.80, and Rossi recorded a season-best time of 1:26.40 in the 100 breaststroke.

Peekskill (0-7) now enters the final stretch of the regular season. The Red Devils will host Port Chester on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 4:30 p.m. for Senior Night, before traveling to the Theodore D. Young Community Center in White Plains to face Woodlands on Friday, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m. Peekskill will close the regular season at home against Lakeland on Monday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m.

Winter Cheer

Peekskill’s winter cheer team finished fourth in their Game Day division at the Port Chester Blizzard Blast on Jan. 17.

“This was the first time we competed in a few years, and many of the athletes this season are new to the sport and didn’t know what to expect. Regardless, they pushed through, finished their routine, and showed Peekskill Pride,” said Peekskill head coach Kiara Turner.

Turner is a Peekskill graduate and cheerleading alumna. She currently teaches special education in the district.

Her goals for the program are simple: “I look forward to building the cheerleading program and continuing to share the experiences of competitive cheerleading with my team.”

Bowling

Peekskill’s boys and girls bowling teams were swept, 7-0, by North Salem on Jan. 14. Odali Alfaro led the girls with a team-high 392 series, while Dillon Sniffen rolled a 350 series for a short-handed boys squad.

The Red Devil girls rebounded the following day (Jan. 15) with a 5-2 victory over Lakeland. Alfaro again paced the team with a team-high 424 series, while Kimberly Alfaro added a 374 series and posted the team’s top single game (154). The Peekskill boys endured another difficult outing, falling 7-0 to Ossining, with Sniffen leading the Red Devils with a 387 series.

The Peekskill girls now stand at 4-5 on the season, while the boys hold a 2-8 record. The Red Devils return to the lanes on Wednesday, Jan. 21 and again on Thursday, Jan. 22. Both matches will be held at Hudson Lanes and Games. Opponents have not yet been confirmed.

Other News

Peekskill High School and its dance team will host a dance competition, Battle of the Squads, on Friday, Jan. 23, bringing together school dance programs from across Section 1. Performances will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium, and the community is invited to attend.

“This marks the first time since 2021 that Peekskill has hosted this event, making its return especially meaningful for our students and community,” said Peekskill Athletic Director Austin Goldberg when reached by the Herald. “Battle of the Squads celebrates school spirit, teamwork, and creativity, and showcases the incredible talent and dedication of all the student performers!”

Peekskill’s dance team is led by physical education teacher Patricia Johnson, who also teaches dance classes at the high school. In addition to coaching the team, Johnson teaches traditional dance and musical theater dance—courses that blend fitness with creativity. Read more about Johnson and her dance programs here.

College Watch

Track & Field – Division I On Jan. 17, the University at Buffalo track and field program competed at Penn State University’s Nittany Lion Challenge. Juliette Salazar (Peekskill Class of 2023) posted a time of 1:35.44 in the 600 meters, earning the fifth-fastest mark in program history.

Track & Field – Division III At the Middlebury Winter Classic over the weekend, Plattsburgh State’s Isaiah Ritter (Peekskill Class of 2023) placed second in the long jump with a leap of 6.54 meters.

Wrestling – Division III Naseer Johnson (Peekskill Class of 2024) went 2-1 at 184 pounds for Hunter College at the Mariner Duals on Jan. 10, recording two bonus-point wins—an 18-7 major decision and an 18-3 technical fall. Hunter finished the event with three team victories.

Mens Basketball – NJCAA Region 15 Isaiah Crawford (Peekskill Class of 2025) scored a team-high 20 points, including four three-pointers, to lead Rockland Community College to an 81-68 win over LaGuardia Community College on Jan. 17.