The Harry Jefferson Showcase: No Showcase for Host Tigers

The Harry Jefferson Boy’s Basketball Showcase held at White Plains High School was postponed from Saturday, Dec. 14 to Sunday, Dec. 15, due to the snow that blanketed the New York Metropolitan area.

With 10 teams scheduled to participate in this year’s tournament, everything went on as scheduled, except for one major glitch. The Host Team White Plains High School did not get the opportunity to play.

The White Plains Tigers were scheduled to play Ossining High School, on Saturday, at 4:15 p.m. in the fourth game of a five-game afternoon slate. However, when the tournament had to be postponed from Saturday to Sunday, Ossining dropped out of the tournament, with their coaches citing other personal commitments. Unfortunately, that left the White Plains Tigers on the sidelines watching the games, rather than competing as the host of the Harry Jefferson Showcase.

“Their coaches said they had family commitments that they could not get out of,” stated a disappointed White Plains High School Head Basketball Coach Spencer Mayfield.  The Head Co-Coaches of the Ossining High School Boy’s Basketball Team are Kahlid Sales and Edward Walker.

What made this even more devastating for Mayfield and the Tigers basketball team was that Sunday, Dec. 15, marked the 20th Anniversary of the Harry Jefferson Showcase at White Plains High School. “Obviously, my team is extremely disappointed, it is their event. I especially feel bad for my seniors because this is their last opportunity to play in the Jefferson Showcase,” commented a distressed Mayfield. “I also feel bad for the Ossining players because they lost an opportunity as well,” emphasized Mayfield.

Head Coach Tyrone Carver, Jr., of Mamaroneck High School, after leading his team to a, 48-37, win over Sleepy Hollow High School, was even more blunt regarding his thoughts about Ossining dropping out of the tournament and leaving White Plains without an opponent. “I thought it was absolutely atrocious! It is very unfortunate, this event is because of White Plains High School,” declared Carver.

“I do not know what the circumstances were, but I do know that if you are put in that position with 10 teams playing, you have to try do whatever you can (to play) especially if you are playing the host team,” stressed Carver, who is also an ordained Minister and the brother of Stepinac’s All-Time Leading Scorer Tony Taylor.

Mamaroneck (2-0) bullied a good Sleepy Hollow (3-2) team to get the victory in the finale of the Harry Jefferson Showcase. The Horsemen had a tough time getting the ball inside to their big man Alex Laub, because of the Tigers efficient front-court defense.

This put the burden on senior guard Nick Arduino to pace the scoring for the Horsemen. Arduino mustered 19 points, which was not nearly enough to overcome the lack of offense from Laub.

“Nick had a pretty good game, he has been playing well for us all season,” acknowledged Horsemen Head Coach Rob Rizzo. “Mamaroneck just out worked us today in every facet of the game. We did not match their level of physical play,” said Rizzo.

Tigers’ junior guard Dean DeLucia led the scoring for Mamaroneck with 14 points and took home the Most Valuable Player of the Game Award. Arduino walked away with the Sportsmanship Player of the Gane Award.

Harry Jefferson retired as an Assistant Principal at WPHS in 1996. Jefferson was an educator, coach, mentor, spiritual leader, moral guide and substitute father to the students at WPHS for 37 years.

Jefferson is a lifelong resident of White Plains and a legend in his own right. During his athletic years at WPHS, he was a track star and selected to the All National High School All-American Football Team. Jefferson was also a football All American in college for the University of Illinois.

“First, I thank God that I am still around to see the Showcase, because it is just a blessing,” said Jefferson, regarding the 20th Anniversary of his namesake Harry Jefferson Showcase. Jefferson attended the game with his wife Gertha.

“You grow up in the city and play high school football, then become the basketball coach and come back to have a tournament named after you. That is a blessing from God,” gratefully acknowledged Jefferson, who not only had a basketball tournament named after him, the gym at WPHS was dedicated the Harry Jefferson Gymnasium in January 2009.

In the first game of the Harry Jefferson Showcase, Harrison High School destroyed Tuckahoe H.S, 77-36. Saunders High School beat Nanuet High School in the second game after Nanuet called a timeout that they did not have with three-tenths of a second left in the game. Saunders made both free throws on the technical foul call and won 55-53. Iona Prep won the feature game against Spring Valley High School, 72-66.

The Harry Jefferson Showcase was once again a winner this year, despite the coaches from Ossining High School withdrawing their team at the last minute and leaving the White Plains players on the sideline. “I am just happy all the other coaches were able to honor their commitments,” stated Mayfield. “But it went over well, we had good teams, good coaches and a great crowd, it is always a fun day,” concluded Mayfield.

Crabbe Comments on Section 1 Player of the Year Award

The White Plains High School Football Teams gallant quarterback Cameron Crabbe was selected as the Section 1 Football Player of the Year. Crabbe broke seven school records on his way to lead the Tigers to their first NYSPHSAA Playoff Championships.

Crabbe will graduate from White Plains High School in June, as the All-Time leader in passing yards for a season and career. Crabbe threw for 1, 576 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. He also rushed for 440 yards this season with eight TDs.

“I have the best teammates in the world and I would not have won it without them,” declared Crabbe. “I had the best offensive line and great receivers in guys like Matt (Berube), Lukas (Repetti) and Marshon (Morris). They made me look a lot better than I actually was and it was a blessing to have those guys on my team,” acknowledged a modest Crabbe.

All the players Crabbe previously mentioned including, Matt Berube, Lukas Repetti and Marshon Morris were also selected All Section, with running back Chris Jordan. Repetti received the Section 1 Lineman of the Year Award and Tigers Head Coach Skip Stevens was voted by his peers as the Section 1 Coach of the Year.