Its last game may have ended in disappointing fashion, but the Moravia boys basketball team is not exactly concentrating on the negative.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Moravia junior Pat Mott takes a jump shot in a Dec. 22 game against Union Springs. Mott and the second-seeded Blue Devils begin play in the Section IV, Class C playoffs Friday.
Moravia junior Pat Mott takes a jump shot in a Dec. 22 game against Union Springs. Mott and the second-seeded Blue Devils begin play in the Section IV, Class C playoffs Friday.
Last Saturday, the Blue Devils (13-5) fell to Watkins Glen by two free throws in the final seconds of overtime in the IAC championship game. Upsetting, sure - but now Moravia has a bigger task to worry about.
“They were disappointed in the loss because they had some opportunities to win that game,” Moravia head coach Todd Mulvaney said. “But overall, the mood is good. Honestly, this team is really clicking right now and after that game, they were still pumping each other up as a team. They know they've still got a sectional game to play.”
At least one. The scorching hot Blue Devils earned a No. 2 seed in the Section IV, Class C tournament and will host the winner of Wednesday's first round contest between No. 10 Delhi and No. 7 Candor - two teams Moravia has not seen on the court this season.
“We know a little bit about Delhi,” Mulvaney said. “And we've played similar teams to Candor, who was ranked second in the state earlier this season. We know they have a great player in Will Gates, who averages about 27 points per game.”
While Gates will certainly be a threat if the Blue Devils face Candor at 7 p.m. Friday, the home team has plenty of standout players themselves - beginning with Pat Mott and Jeremy Stewart. At least one of the two habitually contributes a double-double, while the other simply dominates the scoreboard.
“They're quite the duo,” Mulvaney said. “They play really well together and they're able to give opposing teams headaches.”
Moravia hopes to cause several teams in the playoffs to reach for the aspirin.
Beginning with the team's last regular season game, a big win over Odessa-Montour, the Blue Devils are entering the playoffs in as good of shape as anyone else, if not better. Last season, Moravia crawled into the postseason as an eighth seed and lost at home to Tioga.
“It's a tribute to the kids and how well they've played this year,” Mulvaney said. “It's a nice feeling, knowing we've advanced to the second round as the second seed. But against Watkins Glen, we were able to only put bits and pieces of a game together. Now we want to concentrate on playing a full game.”
In the Section IV, Class C girls tournament, Union Springs earned the 12th seed and will travel to No. 5 Unatego today, while ninth-seeded Moravia will head to No. 8 Candor.
Division winner Southern Cayuga earned the sixth seed and will host 11th-ranked Newfield today.
“They were disappointed in the loss because they had some opportunities to win that game,” Moravia head coach Todd Mulvaney said. “But overall, the mood is good. Honestly, this team is really clicking right now and after that game, they were still pumping each other up as a team. They know they've still got a sectional game to play.”
At least one. The scorching hot Blue Devils earned a No. 2 seed in the Section IV, Class C tournament and will host the winner of Wednesday's first round contest between No. 10 Delhi and No. 7 Candor - two teams Moravia has not seen on the court this season.
“We know a little bit about Delhi,” Mulvaney said. “And we've played similar teams to Candor, who was ranked second in the state earlier this season. We know they have a great player in Will Gates, who averages about 27 points per game.”
While Gates will certainly be a threat if the Blue Devils face Candor at 7 p.m. Friday, the home team has plenty of standout players themselves - beginning with Pat Mott and Jeremy Stewart. At least one of the two habitually contributes a double-double, while the other simply dominates the scoreboard.
“They're quite the duo,” Mulvaney said. “They play really well together and they're able to give opposing teams headaches.”
Moravia hopes to cause several teams in the playoffs to reach for the aspirin.
Beginning with the team's last regular season game, a big win over Odessa-Montour, the Blue Devils are entering the playoffs in as good of shape as anyone else, if not better. Last season, Moravia crawled into the postseason as an eighth seed and lost at home to Tioga.
“It's a tribute to the kids and how well they've played this year,” Mulvaney said. “It's a nice feeling, knowing we've advanced to the second round as the second seed. But against Watkins Glen, we were able to only put bits and pieces of a game together. Now we want to concentrate on playing a full game.”
In the Section IV, Class C girls tournament, Union Springs earned the 12th seed and will travel to No. 5 Unatego today, while ninth-seeded Moravia will head to No. 8 Candor.
Division winner Southern Cayuga earned the sixth seed and will host 11th-ranked Newfield today.
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