CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Herkimer County Community College (5-1/5-1 Region III) erased a 17-point halftime deficit to defeat Hudson Valley Community College, 61-59, in men's basketball action tonight in Troy. Herkimer entered the game ranked No. 3 in the latest NJCAA Division III poll.
Hudson Valley (4-1/2-1 Region III) hit nine of its first 18 shots and raced out to a 38-21 halftime lead. The Vikings forced Herkimer into 12 turnovers in the first half.
However, the shots did not fall for Hudson Valley in the second half, especially in the last 10 minutes. Hudson Valley hit just two of its final 13 shots and turned the ball over 11 times in the second half as Herkimer clawed its way back into the game.
Freshman guard Justin Gallo (Brunswick/Lansingburgh High School) led Hudson Valley with 16 points. Sophomore forward Zach Bye (Scotia/Scotia-Glenville High School) posted his fourth straight double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Sophomore Preston Bell (Brooklyn/Long Island City High School) finished with 23 points, including 14 in the second half, to pace Herkimer.
Hudson Valley will look to bounce back at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursday, November 16. The game begins at 5 p.m.
HERKIMER 61, HUDSON VALLEY 59
Herkimer (61): Will Mercado 0-1-1, Preston Bell 8-6-23, Marques Damon 2-2-6, Kaseem Rabouin 3-3-9, Robby Marshall 10-0-20, Chris Rocco 0-2-2, Totals: 23-14-61
Hudson Valley (59): Justin Gallo 6-2-16, Rocco DiJohn 1-0-3, Ryne Luce 3-0-9, Mike Canape 0-2-2, Kevin Timmons 1-2-4, Maurice Lane 3-0-7, Zach Bye 5-0-10, Corey Harkins 2-0-4, Kevin Goutos 1-2-4, Totals: 22-8-59.
Three-point goals: Herkimer 1 (Bell); Hudson Valley 7 (Gallo 2, DiJohn, Luce 3, Lane)
Halftime: Hudson Valley led 38-21