Boys' basketball: Alemany wins 79-66 in Westchester tournament first round

The Alemany boys' basketball team got its season off on the right foot in a 79-66 victory against Hawthorne in the first round of the Westchester tournament.

Max Guercy scored 32 points, including 13 of 14 from the free throw line to help the Warriors hold off a late Hawthorne rally.

Alemany went on a 24-0 run covering the last five minutes of the third quarter and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter but surrendered a 24-4 run as Hawthorne had a chance to close within three points but Jacory Clarke missed a free throw to convert a three-point play with under one minute remaining.

"We will learn how to win eventually," Alemany coach Tray Meeks said.

Alemany was held to no field goals over the final six minutes of the game but came through with 13 of 19 free throw shooting.

"We started turning the ball over and taking bad shots," Guercy said. "We needed to stay running and get out on the break."

Alemany will face defending City Section semifinalist Washington Prep in Wednesdays quarterfinals with a possible matchup against Taft in the semifinals on Friday.

K.J. Moffett had 19 points and Dorsey transfer Marqueze Coleman contributed 13 points in his debut for Alemany.

Alemany looks to have a bright future one year after reaching the Div. IV-A championship game as Guercy, Coleman and Moffett are only juniors, Andrew English is a talented sophomore and Meeks showed off freshman forward Rahzaun Henderson, who scored six points.