This is the final Peekskill Sports Roundup of the 2025-26 winter season. Be sure to subscribe to Peekskill Herald’s email newsletter so you don’t miss any of our spring coverage.

Boys Basketball

Peekskill’s postseason momentum lasted just 48 hours.

Two days after cruising past No. 19 Riverside, 81-57, in an outbracket sectional game, the 14th-seeded Red Devils ran into a Class AA juggernaut. On Feb. 21, they traveled to face No. 3 Clarkstown North — and saw their season close in a one-sided 84-29 first-round defeat.

The gap between the programs was evident from the opening minutes. Clarkstown North, which finished the regular season 17-3, relied on its senior leadership and star power. Rotimi Esiso controlled the paint on both ends, while Kyle Kirkland stretched the floor with five three-pointers as both finished with 23 points. Jack Kavanagh added 15 as the Rams raced out to a 24-7 first-quarter lead and carried a 45-13 advantage into halftime. Their size, pace, and defensive pressure forced turnovers and turned them into easy transition baskets throughout the afternoon.

Peekskill, which entered the playoffs 6-12 before defeating Riverside, struggled to match that experience and physicality. Darius Smythe, Joseph Walker, and Jahmir Williams each scored eight points in the effort, providing flashes of resistance in an otherwise difficult matchup. Head coach Tyrone Searight remained active on the sideline until the final buzzer, urging his young roster to keep competing despite the lopsided score.

“You can just tell the maturity level,” Searight said afterward. “They were a stronger team than us, more mature. The maturity level plays a big part.”

With the victory, Clarkstown North advances to the quarterfinals and will face No. 11 Roosevelt, which upset Poughkeepsie in the opening round, on Feb. 25.

For Peekskill, the loss closes a 7-13 campaign defined by transition.

Despite the record, Searight sees progress. The team stayed healthy all season and gained valuable experience against a demanding schedule — one built off the program’s recent success. Just two seasons ago, Searight guided Peekskill to a Class AA sectional championship and a return to the Westchester County Center for the first time in over a decade. Last year, the Red Devils reached the sectional final four.

This winter marked a reset. “It’s a rebuilding stage — which I don’t like to say — but at the end of the day that’s what we got to do,” Searight said.

He credited Smythe and Walker — both contributors during last year’s final four run — for providing leadership and stability. He also pointed to underclassmen Amir Gonzalez (ninth grade), AJ Jenkins, and Jah Williams (both sophomores) as promising pieces for the future.

Five seniors — Smythe, Walker, Titus Matthias, Christian Smith, and John Castillo — will graduate, but Searight’s long-term vision remains unchanged.

“I’m not going nowhere,” he said. “I like Peekskill. This is where I grew up.”

His focus is on building depth and continuity rather than relying on a single star. “I don’t want one individual to grow and overshadow someone else. We’re all in this together. It’s going to take an army to get it back to where we used to be.”

The 2025-26 season may have ended with a harsh reminder of the gap between a rebuilding squad and a seasoned contender. But in Peekskill, the foundation and the belief remain firmly in place.

Winter Cheer

Peekskill’s winter cheer team captured first place in the varsity gameday Class B division at the 2026 Storm Rumble, held Feb. 21 at Ketcham High School.

“The win was an important moment for our athletes,” said Peekskill head coach Kiara Turner. “It gave them a confidence boost, validated the hard work they put in all season, and allowed them to feel like they were competing on the same level as teams from other districts.” 

The victory marks the close of the 2025-26 cheer campaign. “It was a great way to end the season feeling proud, motivated, and accomplished,” Turner added.

College Watch

Track & Field – Division III On Feb. 20, Isaiah Ritter (Peekskill Class of 2023) turned in a standout performance for the Plattsburgh State men’s track and field team at the SLU Open, capturing first place in the long jump with a leap of 6.95 meters.

Men’s Basketball – NJCAA Region 15 Jaden Chavis (Peekskill Class of 2025) poured in a game-high 35 points to lead Rockland Community College to a 97-87 victory over Ulster County Community College on Feb. 17. Rockland improved to 19-8 overall this season.