It’s February, almost time for the Section 1 Boys Basketball tournament to begin, and the Mamaroneck Tigers have never looked better. With a current record of 12-1, the Tigers look primed for another deep run into the playoffs, and hoping to make some history along the way. They are looking to capture their first-ever Section 1 Championship, and this season looks like it could be the year. With a good mix of young talent and veteran leadership, there’s no telling what is going to stop this team.
The season started extremely well with the Tigers taking home the trophy in the annual Keith D. Yizer tournament, a victory that came on Mamaroneck turf. A massive victory over Spring Valley and a clutch win over Ardsley led the Tigers to the Yizer championship. The Tigers would also win their next tournament over the holiday break, defeating both Somers and Pelham to come first in the Pelham tournament. Coach Tyrone Carver said that crucial wins in both of these tournaments “gives us a lot of confidence and it shows us what we are capable of.” He emphasized that the schedule after these tournaments was set to get a lot tougher and these wins were good building blocks to have a successful rest of the season.
Carver’s hypothesis was correct: the Tigers would continue on a hot streak throughout early January. Mamaroneck dominated Harrison at home, led by double-doubles from Will Plunkett (‘26), Cosmo Hardinson (‘24), and Brandon Burrell (‘26). The mix of younger players and veterans is crucial according to Carver, as he emphasized how these players: “create team unity and bonding that is so special and unique. Everyone wants each other to be successful, and all the guys are pulling for one another during every practice and every game.” The success would only keep coming for the Tigers, even as they entered a tough stretch in their schedule, a run of games against Yorktown and Scarsdale.
In a highly anticipated game vs Yorktown at the Westchester Community Center on January 5th, the Tigers showed the cohesiveness that Coach Carver prides themselves on and beat the Huskers by 16. Will Plunkett had another double-double, and four players scored more than 10 points. Up next was their biggest game yet against our school’s biggest rival, the Scarsdale Raiders, the team who eliminated the Tigers in the playoffs last season. “Rivalry games always get us going, but we put our heads down and work,” said Elijah Friedman (‘25). Both Scarsdale and Mamaroneck student sections were packed, and the work Friedman noted paid off: the Tigers started the game strong, finishing the first quarter up by 2 after a dunk by Cosmo Hardinson. The game went back and forth, with the Tigers leading by only 1 at halftime. The game would stay tight until the Tigers slowly started to pull away. The final score ended up 60-53, a massive win for the team.
Even after the win against rival Scarsdale, the Tigers still saw their toughest task of the season ahead of them: an unbeaten New Rochelle team. Led by Jacob Fisher (‘24), Mamaroneck pulled through for a huge upset win. Friedman noted how close this team is and how when they have momentum, it is going to take everything from an opponent to try and stop them. He mentioned that “everyone understands that we have the talent to make history.” Following the defeat of New Rochelle, the Tigers certainly kept their momentum rolling within their next stretch of games. They won 5 of their next 6 matchups, including wins over Mount Vernon, Harrison, and a second crucial rivalry game at Scarsdale. Their biggest win came in a tight battle that saw Mamaroneck edge out New Rochelle on senior night to capture the first league title in school history. The Tigers look to add to their trophy cabinet as they enter the postseason.
