Generals’ three-peat as Region III Champions

(Langhorne's assist to Jallah Tarver allows Herkimer to maintain a double digit lead over the Hawks in the second half).

CANANDAIGUA, NY - For a third consecutive season, the Herkimer Generals men's basketball team faced conference rival Mohawk Valley in a Region III playoff game. This time it was different however as both fought for a chance to be regional champs Sunday (3/1) on Putt Moore Court at Finger Lakes Community College. Helping the Generals end the Hawks season again was sophomore Jamell Johnson (Rochester, NY), to the tune of 23 points, cruising to their third consecutive Region III Championship with a 74-67 victory.

Johnson set the tone early for the Generals (29-3, 17-1), scoring the team's first six points. It gave Herkimer a six point lead (6-0) in the first two minutes, but Mohawk Valley quickly tied it, then took the lead 7-6, counter punching the Generals to the tune of four lead changes until a 11-0 run by Herkimer in the span of two minutes took control of the game.

Leading the run was Daniel Owens (Albany, NY) and Johnson. Both guards connected on three three-point baskets, two by Owens and one by Johnson, for a nine point lead (22-13). Owens and Johnson finished with six of the Generals nine threes in the game, helping expand the Hawk defense throughout the contest.

The timeout allowed Mohawk Valley to regroup, going on a mini 4-0 run to cut it to 22-19, but two offensive rebounds and a put back by freshman Felix Riascos (Poughkeepsie, NY) kept it at two possessions until a three pointer by Mohawk decreased the Herkimer lead to 24-22.

It remained a one possession ball game until Owens, Carson Murphy (Mohawk, NY), Kainan McCarthy (Mohawk, NY), Riascos and Jallah Tarver (Schenectady, NY) provided the final offensive spark of the first half, in the final two minutes, building a six point lead (41-35) into intermission, highlighted by Tarver sinking a half-court shot before the buzzer. It was his lone three point basket of the game, finishing with seven points, three rebounds and two assists.

Building on the momentum from the first half, the Generals owned the first five minutes of the second, building a 12-point lead after seven consecutive points by Dantre Langhorne (Greenport, NY) and a three pointer by Murphy pushed it to 53-41. Langhorne finished with nine points, eight rebounds and two assists. Murphy finished with seven points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

The largest the lead got too was 13 (66-53) after Langhorne found Tarver for an 'and one' with 7:09 left in regulation, holding a double digit lead until the 5:58 mark. The Hawks managed to get within seven of a tie (66-59) with Ken Woodard (Bronx, NY) and Murphy both missing the front end of a 1-and-1, but Woodard redeemed himself blocking a potential fast break layup which would've put it at 66-61, putting the Hawks in a position to foul with 1:31 left afterwards.

The Generals hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch from Johnson, Woodard, Murphy and Julio Galay (Bronx, NY) to capture the three-peat, winning 74-67.

As previously mentioned, Johnson scored a game-high 23, just three points away from his season high. It helped him earn MVP of the Region III Tournament. Woodard also joined Johnson on the All-Tournament Team, finishing Sunday with six points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.

Up next for Herkimer is the NJCAA DIII National Tournament at Sullivan County Community College. Seedings for the tournament are to be announced Monday (3/2). The Generals best finish recently was third in 2013.

Score:

Herkimer Generals 74, Mohawk Valley Hawks 67

HERK (29-3, 17-1) Jamell Johnson 23, Daniel Owens 12, Dantre Langhorne 9, Carson Murphy 7, Jallah Tarver 7, Ken Woodard 6, Felix Riascos 4, Julio Galay 3, Kainan McCarthy 3 Totals: 34-15-74

MVCC (24-8, 14-4) Jahcin Ingram 22, Tyquan Rolon 19, Devonte Wilson 10, Dylan Drexler 7, Janeel Frith 7, Aaron Tennant 2 Totals: 27-16-67

3-point goals: Generals 9 (Johnson 3, Owens 3, Murphy 1, Tarver 1, Langhorne 1) Hawks 3 (Wilson 2, Ingram 1 

Halfttime:

Herkimer 41-35

-Giorgio Varlaro