Scouting report: Mount Vernon vs. CBA Technical Education

Mar 11

Scouting report: Mount Vernon vs. CBA

This is the second of three scouting reports for this weeks state semifinals up in Glens Falls. If you missed my look at Tuckahoe-Mechanicville, you can find it here.

No team has ever left Glens Falls with more state championship plaques than Mount Vernons nine, but the Knights face a program well versed in how to slay a giant. CBA upset defending state champ Newburgh two seasons ago, beating a loaded Half Hollow Hills West team along the way.

CBA and Mount Vernon have actually met two times previously in the state semifinals. Both were won by Mount Vernon, but not without CBA leaving the Knights with something to remember. The Brothers challenged Mount Vernons vaunted 2004 Federation champions, dictating the pace in a 52-49 thriller.

Heres a look at the matchup, including thoughts from both coaches, which I posted after the scouting report.

SCOUTING REPORT

Class AA state semifinal

Mount Vernon (21-2) vs. Section 2s CBA-Albany (21-2)

Key players: Mount Vernon Isaiah Cousins (6-4), Sr., G; Randy Stephens (6-3), Sr., G/F; Jarrel Marshall (6-6), Sr., F; Qwadere Lovell (6-0), Sr., G. CBA Joe Krong (6-4), Sr., G/F; Chaz Lott (6-0), Sr., G; Christian Leppanen (6-1), Sr., G; Nate Robinson (6-6), Jr., C; Shelal Cancer (6-1), Sr., F.

A COACHS TAKE

Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino on the matchup:

This year has nothing to do with last year. We lost all of our starters. We have experience, but its another year, another group of players and a totally new identity.

They take care of the ball. Theyre not going to hurt themselves with turnovers, so youre going to have to play them shot for shot and take advantage of our athleticism when we can. We dont want to lead the stats in turnovers. We want to take care of the ball.

Well have a lot of weapons. Were practicing everything this week. If we see somethings not going right, well change something defensively. If we can change the defensive tempo, well make moves there.

We have good parts. We are deep, but thats why they play the game. Anything can happen at any time. Im well aware of that. Were going to practice like its the last game were going to play and hope to move on.

CBA coach Dave Doemel on Mount Vernon:

Theyre extremely quick and apply so much pressure to you. Coach always has the guys playing their game. I think theyre deep and talented and probably going to be the deepest team weve faced.

Its going to be a situation of if we can handle their pressure and keep them from getting quick runs. They can score in bunches.

(Isaiah) Cousins is pretty darn good, but I think with coach Cimmino one of the things Ive always been impressed by is his guys always play together and play unselfishly despite the fact that the are extremely talented. Even the most talented guy is willing to scrafice and step up and play.

Doemel on CBA and how it must contend with Mount Vernon:

We have to control the basketball. We cant turn it over and have empty trips. That plays into the them getting out and going. We have to certainly hope to keep them off the glass so they dont get second third or fourth opportunities. They score too well on the first try. We dont need to give them extras.

Defensively, certainly, we have our hands full there with the different personel they have. But we have a certain amount of resiliency that our guys have shown. Im hoping that resiliency will allow us to maintain a certain amount of competitiveness throughout the game. If they get on some huge runs and get out ahead of us, I think wed be up against it.

You just have to accept the fact there are certain things those guys can do. Youre not going to stop it all the time. You just have to hope to contain it. I tell my kids, just stay with it and stay close. Hopefully, you can stay close and hopefully we can capitalize.

Joe Krong was on the state title team, Lott was on the team, Leppanen was on team but didnt play. Krong and Lott were in our rotation. Joe is a four-year player and was a key guy during that time.

The other guys are kind of new, but they were there last year when Jamestown beat us in the semis. That was a tough one for us, a very difficult game that we lost in overtime. Theyve had a taste of being up there.

I imagine were going to have to play our bench. You better be able to match their intensity all game, so were going to have to play (the bench) or our guys are going to get tired.

Technical Education