Dominating the Rivalry

The Vikings defeated Columbia-Greene last Thursday 71-47, making it the second time in the last two weeks that Hudson Valley beat the Twins.

“I’m from Catskill so Columbia-Greene is right across the river and I was going to go there, but I decided to go to Hudson Valley and it was a big deal playing them. I really wanted to beat them,” said Hudson Valley Forward Jeremy Taylor.

“I thought we played pretty well, but I think there are a lot of things we can improve on,” Head Coach Ken Dagostino said. “I don’t think our execution offensively was to our liking but it got better as the game progressed.”

In a game that featured 14 former Section II high school athletes, one person stuck out more than the rest.

Former Suburban Council MVP Jose Reyes had a game high 20 points and set the tone defensively for the Vikings.

“I think we played really good. I felt like we moved the ball around well and we’ve been really patient lately and everything has been working out perfect,” Reyes said.

Hudson Valley held Columbia-Greene to 14 points in the first half.

“We did what we were supposed to do, they kept their man in front of them, and followed the game plan well,” Dagostino said.

“We just watched a lot of film before the game and coach wanted us to pack in on defense because they don’t have good jump shooters,” said Taylor.

Hudson Valley carries a team that allows only 57 points a game in to their last three games of the year.

With 17-10 on the season, the Vikings need to win one more game to make it to the regional tournament.

“We gotta do it for Jeremy [Taylor], this is his second year here and were going to keep working hard and playing hard for him,” said Reyes.

“We have to win one of our last three. I think we’ll get that against Schenectady and I’m thinking we can beat Delhi too,” Taylor said. “I want to leave my mark here at Hudson Valley like I did at Catskill.”

Taylor scored 16 in two straight games and averages 12 points per game on the season.

In a new starting role, sharp shooter Giacomo Giglio’s scoring has gone up and he added 17 points in the win.

Hudson Valley and Columbia-Greene are in counties that are right next to each other (Rennselaer and Columbia) and are about 50 miles apart.

If distance was not enough of a reason for these two colleges to be a rivalry, there is also something personal.

“I remember playing against Malcolm Shivers. He doesn’t like me very much because I ended his high school career when he was at Cohoes,” Taylor said.

Shivers scored 15 points for the Twins in a losing effort.

“They like to talk a lot of smack, especially Jonathon Halligan, who I played against in high school in a part of the Catskill-Cairo rivalry,” said Taylor.

Dagostino does not care about the rivalry. “I’m just glad we won,” he said.

Due to snow, the Vikings will have to wait to try and clinch their playoff berth. Last Saturday’s home finale was canceled and rescheduling is pending. They go to Schenectady on Tuesday.