Yorktown defeated rival Somers 54-45 on Feb. 6 for its 31st straight home win, but the result was secondary on a night played before an overflow crowd at Yorktown High School for a cause that went far beyond basketball.
The game was the Huskers’ fifth annual Charlie Strong Game, named after 2023 Yorktown graduate Charlie DeGennaro, a former captain for the Huskers.
“It’s always a great atmosphere every year that we have this game,” said Yorktown coach Mark Pavella. “Winning on this night makes it a little more special. We are happy that we have been able to continue this game for Blythedale Children’s Hospital for the past five seasons.”
In February 2020, DeGennaro was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a condition that attacks the spinal cord, and spent four months as an inpatient at the hospital in Valhalla.
All money raised through the Charlie Strong Game is donated to the hospital.
“It was an absolutely incredible night,” DeGennaro said. “To see two communities come together and pack the gym is so amazing to see and an absolute honor. I am so grateful to be able to do a fundraiser like this and have so many incredible people rally around it. It is really so special. I would love to do this fundraiser as long as we possibly can.”
As he has in past years, DeGennaro spoke to the Huskers — the state’s No. 7-ranked Class AA team — before the game, an experience he said he has enjoyed each time. He delivered a message focused on gratitude and staying present in the moment rather than looking ahead.
“I explained to them to really appreciate every single moment that happens in your life and also appreciate everything you have,” DeGennaro said. “It’s extremely important to be grateful for every single thing that you have or can do because you never know when it’s your last time being able to.
“I explained that my journey really taught me how much of a privilege it is to be able to put on a uniform and play at a high level in basketball. It is such a precious thing that you truly have to appreciate every single moment and play each possession like it’s your last because you never know what is around the corner for you. It’s really cool to see all of the players continuing to rally around me and continuing to meet new players every year. I hope I made a small shift in their perspective.”
DeGennaro said that it’s always an honor to be able to speak to the team and continue to get his message and story out there.
“I’m so grateful to be able to have the ability to do that,” DeGennaro, a junior at Pace University. said. “I have really grown to love speaking and hope to continue to do it in the future.”
His message definitely got across to the players.
“Charlie Strong Night is such a special game to play in,” Connor Morhardt said. “Charlie talked to the team before the game, which was motivational. Charlie is such a great dude with a love of basketball and is a real inspiration. I’m so glad we were able to come out with the win for him and his family.”
The night was truly a meaningful one for the team.
“It meant so much to the boys and the community, a night with so much value and such energy, it felt great to add to the win column,” said Yorktown’s Colin Worden.
DeGennaro, whose father Joe is the Yorktown principal, also got to talk to the voice of Yorktown sports, Brian Mundy, while on the broadcast of the game on the Hudl website.
“I loved spending time talking with Brian Mundy during the second quarter,” DeGennaro said. “It is always such a fun experience and definitely a great learning experience for me, especially that I’m a communications major. Sitting down and talking with Brian Mundy is a highlight of these events. I feel it is so special to be able to do something like that and I’m happy to have the opportunity.”
Yorktown (15-1) led 8-6 at the end of the opening quarter before taking control in the second quarter, outscoring the Tuskers 14-7 in it, to go up 22-13 at halftime.
Scoring the last two points of the half was Morhardt (13 points, 5 rebound), who took a sweet pass from Lucas Schrade (11 points) and made a jumper in the paint, with just seven seconds remaining before halftime.
“Lucas made a great drive and got by his defender and was able to find me on a cut,” Morhardt said. “It was a little improvising, good spacing, and that’s great team basketball and that pumps everyone up.”
Yorktown continued to make statement plays in the third quarter, when Sean Davis nailed a trey from the top of the key, putting the Huskers up 29-15 and sending Yorktown’s student body, “The Crop,” into euphoria.
“That was so exciting, the gym erupted, and it’s so great for Sean,” Morhardt said. “I know he was hype too. That shot was huge for us and gave us a ton of energy and momentum.”
Schrade then put the exclamation point on the third quarter when he hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 1:18 left in it, giving Yorktown a 36-22 lead going into the final stanza.
“Ending quarters are always important and something that we stress each quarter,” Pavella said. “Guys stepped up and made big shots when needed. More importantly we were able to hit our free throws down the stretch.”
Tyler Galante helped keep the Huskers ahead early in the fourth quarter, making both his foul shots, giving Yorktown a 40-29 advantage.
Yorktown continued to maintain its lead when Colin Worden converted on a strong baseline move, putting the Huskers up 44-34, and they stayed in front from there.
“Our coach had drawn up a play with various options based on our team’s personnel, I was able to just get by my defender and finish at the rim,” Worden said.
Davis (5 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals) and Worden (9 points, 9 rebounds) led the Huskers on the glass.
“Sean and I were able to grab the most rebounds because of all five guys were boxing out and the ball just happened to fall to us,” Worden said. “Rebounding is a team effort all-around.”
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