Good morning. 🏒🏀 It’s Friday, Feb. 6. According to Punxsutawney Phil, there are six weeks left of winter. Rye’s winter sports teams hope that forecast applies to their seasons as well.

If the Garnet girls and boys basketball teams are still playing six weeks from now, that means they’ll be prepping for the Class AA state tournament semifinals. With many playoff games between now and then (and plenty of snow still on the ground), winter’s end may feel like a long way off. But there are just two weeks remaining in the regular season.

This edition of “Between the Lines” looks at how the Garnets can make the most of them in preparation for the postseason.

“Between the Lines” is curated by sports editor Chris Marshall.

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Groundhog Day for Garnet Boys Basketball

When the Rye boys basketball team woke up on Groundhog Day, the calendar read Feb. 2. For the next two weeks, it may feel like they’re reliving the day on a loop. The Garnets will pack seven games into the final 11 days of the regular season.

After opening the gauntlet with wins against Nyack and Harrison, Rye will play two games in less than 24 hours, tonight at Bronxville and Saturday afternoon against Roosevelt.

Following one day of rest in observance of another February holiday, Super Bowl Sunday, the Garnets will leap back into action with three road games in five days.

The depth Rye (11-4) displayed in its 52-42 win Monday against Nyack (6-10) will be key to staying fresh for the remainder of the regular season and the section playoffs, which begin Feb. 21.

The RedHawks were no match for the Garnets’ pressure defense. Rye led from start to finish, allowing coach Tom Proudian to play many members of his rotation. Senior Henry Shoemaker scored a team-high 14 points, and junior Ben Hudson added 13. 

The same duo led Rye offensively in a 45-28 win Wednesday against Harrison (8-8), with Shoemaker scoring 14, and Hudson 11. The Garnets led 28-13 at halftime and maintained a 15-point lead entering the fourth.

With seven minutes left, Harrison hit a 3-pointer to get back within 10, 35-25, but the Huskies made just one basket the rest of the game and were held scoreless for the final five minutes.

Since starting the season 1-2, the Garnets have won 10 out of 12, including five of their past six games. Currently sixth in the Section 1 Class AA standings, a strong finish could propel Rye past Horace Greeley and Poughkeepsie, both 12-4.

The biggest test remaining comes Wednesday at Clarkstown North (15-2), winners of 13 straight and contenders for the section tournament’s No. 1 seed.

Weather Report: Check out the weekend weather forecast for Rye here.

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Performer of the Week: Colin Nigro 🖐️

🏒 Congrats to Colin Nigro — winner of the Sportech Performer of the Week.

For the second time this season, the sophomore scored five goals in a single game, this time in a 10-3 win against Mamaroneck last Friday.

Rye (12-2-3) pounced early against the Tigers (7-9), with first-period goals from senior Jamie Morris, sophomore Max Niejadlik, and Nigro. Another goal from Niejadlik, plus one from senior Cody Greenhaw, made it 5-2.

Then Nigro scored three in a row. After his fourth goal, the standout sophomore appeared to look toward Rye’s bench with a slight Michael Jordan shoulder shrug. He was in the mythical zone – and couldn’t explain it.

“Colin is a very skilled player,” said Rye coach Peter Thomas. “He’s shifty, quick with the puck, and has good vision. Tonight, he was the recipient of some great play from his classmate Finn Draddy, who set him up for some good looks.”

He added another goal in Wednesday’s 4-2 come-from-behind win against Suffern, the two-time defending Division 1 state champions.

The Garnets have a week off until next Wednesday, when they host a rematch against Mamaroneck in their final regular-season home game, then play at Suffern next Friday before the puck drops on the playoffs.

— By Steven Kearney

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Game of the Week: Seniors Get Their Flowers

🏀 Senior night provided a fitting sendoff for a five-member class that includes 1,000-point career scorer Phoebe Greto, fellow starter Annie Toulouse, first-year varsity players Valeria Medina and Arabella Roberts, and Paige Tepedino, a starter on last year’s section title team who has missed all of this season with a torn ACL.

Rye’s trademark stifling defense was on display in last Friday’s 54-32 win against Eastchester. The Eagles didn’t score their second basket of the game until the final 40 seconds of the opening quarter. Midway through the second quarter, Rye (15-2) pushed its lead to 29-5.

Eastchester (5-13) got back within 36-17 at halftime, but Rye’s lead hovered around 20 for the rest of the game. Greto scored nine points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

“It was a wonderful night honoring our five seniors and everything they’ve meant to our program,” said Rye coach Margo Hackett. “Valeria Medina and Arabella Roberts joined us this year, and we’re so thankful for the impact they’ve made in such a short time. Annie Toulouse, Paige Tepedino, and Phoebe Greto have been members of the Rye girls basketball program for many years and have played an integral role in our success.”

Three regular-season games remain, Monday against Fox Lane (9-7), then home and away games against Ossining (9-5).

This Week’s Rye Record: 6-3

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