The Presidents from FD Roosevelt led the entire game Friday and earned a place in the Championship game against Poughkeepsie for the first time since 1998.  Ten years ago the Presidents had one of the best teams ever to come through Dutchess County with notable players such as the Duffy triplets and Aaron Galletta.  This year another athletic President team will look to upset a formidable Pioneer squad.

Senior Connor Hart led the Presidents with a game-high 20 points, while Shareef Taylor added 14 more to aid the visitors over the Ketcham Indians 58-38.  A swarming, in-your-face defensive presence disrupted the flow of the Indian offense and allowed the quick, athletic President players to get in the open court and finish.  Hart brought the crowd to its feet early in the first quarter with a two-handed, put-back dunk off of a missed lay-up by teammate George Dallas.  Another three-pointer from Hart to close the second quarter as time expired gave FDR a 5 point edge heading into the halftime intermission.

The Presidents extended their lead in the third and fourth quarters as the Indians continued to struggle in stopping dribble penetration and keeping the Presidents from getting second and third opportunities from offensive rebounds.  Kyle Bender kept RCK close with his team-high points, but it was not enough to ever allow the Indians to make it a one or two possession game.  Taylor was able to get out in the open court after a steal and throw a down a ferocious one-handed dunk towards the end of the third quarter.  By the end of the game, the Presidents had increased their lead to twenty and by the last two minutes the lead was untouchable.

The Presidents will have a day off to prepare for a very quick and athletic Poughkeepsie team that they will have to face at 8:00 on Sunday in the Large school Championship.

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