Writing the next chapter

was that beating a league opponent three times in one calendar year is a tall order for all but the most dominant teams.

There’s not too many things better than proving your doubters wrong. In fact, the only thing that might surpass that feeling is doing so in the biggest possible moment. That’s exactly what Rye Neck did this week in the Class B boys basketball playoffs, something that serves as a terrific example of why—when it comes to high school athletics—nothing can beat playoff time.

Coming into No. 4-seeded Rye Neck’s Tuesday showdown with No. 5 Briarcliff, it seemed as those–despite the respective seedings— some pundits weren’t giving the Panthers much of a chance against the Bears.

The reasoning for some of those prognostications remains somewhat unclear; the Panthers had twice beaten Briarcliff during the regular season, so perhaps the thinking

It wouldn’t matter to Rye Neck, however, as they not only handled Briarcliff on Tuesday, they throttled their opponents en route to a one-sided 56-23 victory that sends them to the semifinals at the Westchester County Center.

Performances like the Panthers’—which saw them more than double their opponent’s point total—can be a huge confidence builder come playoff time, and the importance of something like that can’t be overstated. You begin to believe you can play with anyone, which is a good thing for Rye Neck as it’s drawn top-seeded Valhalla—a team with just one loss on the year—as it’s Feb. 27 opponent.

Sure the Panthers will be underdogs in the semifinals, but they’ve got something cooking.

To call Rye Neck a “Cinderella Team” would be a bit of a misno- mer. As a No. 4 seed, the Panthers have played well enough all year to be in consideration for a Class B crown. But making a run to the County Center isn’t an every-year occurrence for the Panthers, who last reached that venue in 2014. Regardless of the terms you want to use, playoff runs—improbable or not—are built on momentum; on one win, one possession or one shot that leads players and fans alike to believe that something larger is going on.

But the Panthers aren’t the only team in our area looking to make a run. If their neighbors in Rye want to play under the bright lights of the County Center, they’ll have to go through top-dog Somers. If Mamaroneck wants to win a title, they’ll—most likely—have to beat two tough league foes in Scarsdale in Mount Vernon. Topping the Raiders on Feb. 24? That would be a good start to their own story.

For fans and writers, these next few days will see new narratives crafted as we march towards the finals in hockey and basketball. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last upset, the last great finish, or the last jaw-dropping moment. The student-athletes are dialed in for sure. And as a spectator, I am too.

Follow Mike on Twitter @LiveMike_Sports