The Wolf Pac boys basketball team got a balanced attack from three of the team’s top players last week at the Mahopac Holiday Tournament, and the result showed in victories over Carmel (65-33) and Greeley (79-60), with the Pac taking the tournament title.
Seniors Matt Reilly and Drew Lichtenberger, along with junior Ethan Dedvukaj, combined to form an unstoppable trio vs. the Rams and Quakers, with Reilly taking home tournament MVP honors and Lichtenberger earning all-tournament recognition.
“There were no surprises,” Pac coach Matt Calabro said. “We feel we have a good chance to win any game we play, and for the tournament we had everyone back and healthy, which is big for us.”
In last Tuesday’s Dec. 30 championship game, Reilly’s triple-double — 12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists — got the team rolling. Lichtenberger’s 22 led the team in scoring, and he grabbed eight rebounds. Dedvukaj added 17 points, five rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks, with Justin Beberman chipping in 15 points.
“Greeley had been hot, so that was a challenge,” Calabro said of the matchup. “And our guys really made sure they paid attention to details. We made it hard for their guards, we attacked the pace. We wanted that game, and it was evident.”
Calabro said Reilly, who had previously missed time with an ankle injury, showed no ill effects.
“It looked like he was playing without thinking about the ankle,” the coach said. “Lichtenberger also played great for us. Ethan has also been unbelievable and should’ve gotten all-tournament. He’s had quite a season so far.”
One day earlier in the first round against Carmel, Lichtenberger finished with 12 points and six rebounds, with Dedvukaj adding 12 points and three assists. Reilly had six points, six rebounds and five assists, Bobby Egan scored eight points and junior Ryan LaRue added six points.
“Carmel is young and inexperienced,” Calabro said. “We got up early, and it was a good team win.”
Mahopac (5-4) hosts Poughkeepsie on Friday, Jan. 9, at 6:30 p.m. and hosts Saunders on Jan. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
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