Shea scores 1,000th in Wallkill win

By RICK REMSNYDER
Posted 1/19/22

It was a banner evening for Wallkill and its star guard Mat Shea Friday night. Not only did the Panthers celebrate their 11th straight win with a dominating 73-30 performance over Highland, but Shea …

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Shea scores 1,000th in Wallkill win

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It was a banner evening for Wallkill and its star guard Mat Shea Friday night. Not only did the Panthers celebrate their 11th straight win with a dominating 73-30 performance over Highland, but Shea scored his 1,000th career point with a rebound basket with 3:00 left in the third quarter.

After posing for photos with his coaches, teammates and parents Pete Shea and Honor Friedman following the game, Shea reflected on his accomplishment in the winner’s locker room.

“It feels incredible,” Shea said. “It’s unexplainable. I set out a goal when I was a freshman and to finally achieve it feels great especially with all my teammates supporting me.”

Shea’s achievement was all the more remarkable considering Wallkill only played four games in his pandemic-shortened junior season.

Shea, a standout quarterback for Wallkill’s football team this past fall, seemed just as excited discussing team goals as his scoring exploits. The Panthers improved to 11-0 overall and 5-0 in the Mid-Hudson Athletic League after Friday’s win. The Panthers’ last Section 9 and MHAL basketball titles came in 1992.

Shea, who had a game-high 21 points, is hoping the Panthers can end that drought this season. Wallkill has plenty of experience starting five seniors.

“It would mean everything,” Shea said. “This has been a goal of our class as basketball players for a very long time.”

Fourth-year head coach Hunter Andrews said his players have embraced the idea of making history with MHAL and Section 9 titles.

“It’s been a topic of conversation and a motivating factor for these guys to be the group to win a championship, hopefully,” Andrews said. “We know it’s not going to be easy. We’re getting everybody’s best shot. And the MHAL and Class A are strong. We’re just trying to get better every day to accomplish that goal.”

Eric Bell, the star of the 1992 championship team, met with the team at school in September and spoke to them about basketball, Andrews said.

“He’s reconnected with our team this year,” Andrews said. “For him to reconnect with these guys and talk to them has been really special.”

Knowing that he has the makings of a title team, Andrews hasn’t shied away from scheduling rugged competition this year. On Thursday night, the Panthers scored a hard-earned 86-81 win over Class AA Pine Bush. Earlier in the season, Wallkill captured two holiday tournaments at Cornwall and Monticello.

“I wanted to have a tough schedule this year and the fact that we’ve been able to win those games has been special,” Andrews said. “I’d rather learn through a win than learn through a loss. We wanted to prepare ourselves for the sectional tournament.”

Wallkill put on a scoring exhibition in the first quarter racing out to a 35-9 lead. Senior guard Kyle Krebs, who finished with 18 points, made five straight 3-pointers in the opening quarter.

“When you see the first one go in, you kind of get locked in and you just keep going,” Krebs said. “I felt good in the first quarter. I felt comfortable coming into today.”

Senior guard Dominic Valente led Highland (2-8 overall, 0-4 MHAL) with 12 points.