GENESEO — The York Golden Knights and the Geneseo Blue Devils clashed for the annual SUNY Showdown, with the Blue Devils winning 57-47, improving to 5-0.
York battled late into the fourth quarter but the high powered offense of the Blue Devils, led by Sam Lofquist, Bryan Rollins, and Mo Carlon was too much for the Knights.
“Personally, I thought I had a pretty good first half and really enjoyed that, but the best part about it was watching my teammates all contribute and really show up tonight,” Lofquist said. “The most enjoyable part for me was knowing everyone succeeded, not just one person.”
Lofquist stated that the rivalry game meant something to him and his teammates.
“It’s a huge rivalry, but we’re all best friends, but tonight nobody is friends, everyone hates each other for 32 minutes straight, and it’s a lot of fun to show up and have this many people here, it makes you feel you are playing in a big league game.”
Blue Devils head coach Brian Stout was also impressed with his team after the SUNY Showdown.
“That was a great team we faced tonight,” Stout said. “We just played really good defense and it was the first time for 32 minutes that we worked hard on the boards and got the loose balls and, in a game like that, with two even teams, it usually comes down to what team wins the battle on the glass and gets the loose balls and we did a real good job of that tonight.”
The York offense had trouble getting started early, as they seemed to have a tough time meshing together.
Eli Laboy, recently called up from the junior varsity, had some first game jitters but stepped up under the pressure.
“We have to get better at getting shots for each other,” York head coach Ed Orman said. “Meshing together has to be our main goal.”
Up next, Geneseo will compete in the Blue Panther Holiday Classic in Gananda. York will be playing in the annual Cal-Mum Tournament, both tournaments begin on December 27.