Another day, another statement win by New Rochelle.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Huguenots continued their torrid play, topping league foe—and Section 1 title contender—Scarsdale 66-51 in another dominant display by one of the area’s hottest teams. For the surging New Rochelle hoopsters, the game was one more sign that the team is shaping up as it looks ahead to next month’s sectional playoffs.

The Huguenots throttled the Raiders in the first half, holding standout guard Jake Sussberg to just four points over the first two quarters. Although Sussberg would lead a Scarsdale rally after the intermission—where he scored 21 of his game-high 25 points and nearly brought his team back from a double-digit deficit—the Huguenot effort against the standout was enough to help the hosts hang on.
New Rochelle Head coach Rasuan Young said that while it’s nearly impossible to to take the Scarsdale shooter out of the game entirely, the Huguenot defenders did just enough to upset his rhythm on the afternoon.
“You aren’t going to be able to stop him completely, he’s a terrific player who can hit shots from anywhere on the court,” said Young. “But we stayed with him and hoped those shots didn’t fall.”
Another factor in the Huguenots win was the continued production from their own marquee star, forward Malik Gasper, who tallied 23 points to go along with 16 rebounds and five blocks on the day. Gasper has been a force for the Huguenots over the last several years, and his continued development has paid dividends for New Rochelle, explained Young.
“We’re so fortunate to have him, he really sets the tone for us,” said Young.
Young also credited the overall composure of his team, noting that the squad’s ability to adjust on the fly was integral to Thursday’s win. Despite Scarsdale’s third-quarter run—which saw their lead go from 17 points to just three—the Huguenots never let the moment get too big for them.
“The first thing I told them in the locker room was how proud I am that they didn’t fold,” said Young. “Scarsdale made a run, but nobody panicked, we continued to play our game and right the ship.”
With the win, New Rochelle improved to 10-2 on the season, with the team’s only two losses coming against out-of-state teams. In their last two games, the Huguenots have dispatched of key league opponents in Mount Vernon and Scarsdale, with both wins coming by double digits.
They will face another stiff test on Wednesday afternoon when they travel to Mamaroneck to take on the Tigers.
The Tigers are currently 14-0 on the season, with 12 of those wins coming against Section 1 competition, including Mount Vernon and Scarsdale.
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