Read Coach Scholes notes on Picco, Patrick, Campbell
From Hornell High School Atheltics, gallery from JC’s Photography
The Hornell Red Raiders celebrated their seniors Monday night with a 62-54 victory over the Class C powerhouse York Golden Knights in their last regular season game. For the second year in a row, the Red Raiders will enter sectional play as the #1 seed in Class B1 with a 17-3 record. Hornell also sits atop LCAA Division 1 with a league record of 8-0.
A highly competitive game all evening, the Raiders and Knights battled lead changes through the first half, and Quinn Mauro’s three-pointer at the end of the second quarter put the Raiders up 34-30 going into halftime. The battle continued in the second half with both teams scoring 14 points in the third quarter, and Hornell outscoring York by only 4 points in the 4th to come out with the 8-point victory.
“Tonight was a great game for us as a team,” reflected Hornell coach Kirk Scholes. “We had multiple guys step up throughout the game. Having four guys in double figures is huge. We are finding ways to win in different ways. I’m super proud of the effort all night!”
Hornell junior, PJ Picco led his team with 19 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double on the night. He also tallied 3 assists. “PJ was a monster all night,” continued Scholes. “He made plays all over the court. He even passed up a few shots, and I’ve been on him about being assertive and aggressive. He’s a really good player that can take over games when he has that thought process.”
Wyatt Evingham (11 points), Gennaro Picco (10 points), and Xzaiver Patrick (10 points) also scored double digits in the win. Senior Xzaiver Patrick had a big 4th quarter, scoring 8 of his 10 points in the last 8 minutes of play. “In the fourth quarter, Xzaiver was doing work in the paint. He isn’t the biggest guy, but he’s crafty with his jump stop and shot fake. The guys were getting into the paint, and they were finding X. He finished very well all game.” Aaron McInerney (6), Quinn Mauro (3), and Marco Picco (3) also scored for the Raiders.
York’s Joseph Bauer led his team with 19 points, followed by Parker Bonafede with 14 and Tyler Brady with 13. Also contributing were Connor Rodwell (4), Jake Pangrazio (3), and Joseph Mundz (1).
“I really liked our defense,” said Scholes. “York is a very talented team that can put up big numbers. We were able to take away the 3 from them, which is a big part of their offense.”
The Hornell Red Raiders will be back in the gym this week and next to get ready for sectional play. “We now have almost two weeks to prepare and get ready for playoffs,” said Scholes when asked about post season play. “We have to stay locked in and keep getting better. The kids, I think, are going to be ready to go. They have a hunger, and we just need to focus one game at a time.” The Raiders will host the quarterfinal round on February 23rd.
Senior Spotlight Hornell Seniors 23-24
From Coach Kirk Scholes
#1 – Gennaro Picco:
G is a four year starter and a team captain. His accolades speak for themselves. He’s averaged over 20 points per game the last three years on varsity. He is the all time leading scorer in Hornell Basketball history with 1,534 points (heading into senior night). He also leads the team in steals and assists and is 2nd in rebounding. He’s been an absolute honor to coach. He’s a silent assassin and lets his play do the talking. He’s never missed a practice in the four years he’s been here. He can score from anywhere on the floor which makes him very difficult to stop. His efficiency is what makes him great. He shoots at such a high percentage and has grown so much this year with being able to finish through contact. I know Gennaro will be successful in college because of his work ethic, talent, and the versatility he can bring to the floor. I’m going to miss his ability to take over games, his work rate at practice, and his athleticism to make some of the toughest plays look easy. Gennaro will truly go down as one of the greatest to ever lace them up at HHS.
#5 – Xzaiver Patrick:
X got here in 8th grade and I remember how respectful he was while introducing himself. He shook my hand, looked me in the eye and you could tell that he could fit in and become a Red Raider. Xzaiver has been on the varsity team for two years and he has always been known for his defense. He’s a kid that is quick enough to guard guards, but is strong enough to guard forwards. He has gotten better over the years, but the greatest thing that X did this year was accept his role. He’s realized who he is as a basketball player and how he can help the team. He’s put the team first and helped us as a starter playing the big spot even though he’s usually giving up between 3-5 inches every night. He’s done a good job using his voice on defense to help direct and lead the team. The best part about X is his personality. He’s always got a smile on his face. He plays with a lot of grit and toughness. I’ve loved watching him mature on the court and off. I’m going to miss his competitive spirit, his toughness, and his unselfishness.
GM – Braydon Campbell:
Camp has come into the Hornell Basketball world this year as a manager. He’s been an absolute pleasure to have around the team. He’s helped at practice with drills, keeping score, and with any other job we have needed him to do. He also adds to our team dynamic with his personality. Campy was able to get into the Bath game and scored two points. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him this year and I’m sad he only got one year with us. I’m going to miss his upbeat energy and all the help he gave to the coaching staff and team this year.
