Mount Vernon basketball stays perfect with state title
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (BVM) 鈥� Mount Vernon High School headed into the 2021-22 season in pursuit of the program’s 12 boys basketball state championship. With the goal at the forefront, the team would find itself chasing a new challenge throughout the year.
After closing out the first month of the season a perfect 6-0, the Knights would find themselves amidst the team鈥檚 new journey, finding ways to beat league and non-league opponents alike in order to keep the team鈥檚 streak alive. With dominating play throughout the next two months, Mount Vernon would enter postseason action undefeated at 17-0. In hindsight, the team鈥檚 final regular season victory over Green Tech foreshadowed the team鈥檚 upcoming run.
Led by the likes of junior Elijah Morris, senior DeMarley Taylor, and semifinal star Dylan Colon, the Knights would find their rhythm early on, with wins over New Rochelle, Arlington and North Rockland. With momentum heading into subregional and regional action, the No. 1–seeded Knights would continue their undefeated run picking up wins over Newburgh Free Academy and Corning-Painted Post.聽
The team鈥檚 high-margin victories early on in the playoff push would set up their toughest challenge yet, set to face the No. 8-seeded Baldwin Bruins. Following a rare three–point performance from Morris, Mount Vernon would rally after a tie game at halftime behind Colon, who added 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter.聽
The 64-57 win over Baldwin set up the Knights for a rematch against Green Tech. After a 73-55 win early on in the year, Mount Vernon would head into the game knowing just what it takes to defeat its final opponent.聽
With a much closer game early on, Mount Vernon would rely heavily on Morris, who rebounded nicely from his semifinal showing with a 22-point performance. With stiff defense and a noticeable rebounding edge favoring the Knights, the team would weather many close runs lead by the Eagles. Mount Vernon鈥檚 own fourth quarter run would not only push the team to its twelfth state championship but would cap off the Knights golden year giving Green Tech its second of three losses.
鈥淚t’s amazing,鈥� . 鈥淚t’s a relief for me as a coach that we could achieve a goal that they all wanted so much. They are such a great group. My one regret is that I can鈥檛 practice on Monday with them. They lifted your spirits no matter what.
鈥淭he gym at Mount Vernon High School is [a] sanctuary. You go there, you relax, you work hard and you come away with goals. These guys are forever gonna remember this day.鈥�
Cimmino, who captured his eighth title as coach, highlighted the sacrifice the team showed. With the perfect 24-0 record, the Knights added themselves to the program鈥檚 rich history, joining the 1978, 1991 and 2000 teams as the only ones credited as undefeated state champs.聽
鈥淭he players,鈥� Cimmino described as the main reason for the team鈥檚 success. They bought into the system. They love each other, they work hard with each other. That鈥檚 what it is. What we have at Mount Vernon is a family, not a team. These guys understand that. They would sacrifice quite a bit for each other. They would give up scoring, they would give up whatever it would take to keep this team going.鈥�