Pine Plains came into the MHAL boys basketball title game at SUNY Ulster Friday the much bigger team, but Marlboro, smaller, thwarted the size of the Bombers with their athleticism as Dukes won 58-43.

It was their first ever MHAL boys’ title after the Dukes beat Red Hook 67-65 in the semis three nights earlier in Stone Ridge.

“It feels amazing, just like football,” said Mike Tamburri, who led the Dukes with 18 points.

Tamburri and other members of the basketball team also played for Marlboro’s football team in the fall, a squad that won its first ever Section 9, Class B title.

Against Pine Plains, the Dukes had to devise a game plan that would offset Pine Plains’ height, especially on defense. As the Bombers shut down Austin Beck, a post threat inside all season, the Dukes moved outside to shoot, and Tamburri burned them with four three-pointers – three in the first half.

“They are huge. Our game plan is to always get it inside. If not, shoot the three and hope for the rebound,” said Tamburri, a senior captain.

On defense, the Dukes just had to out hustle the Bombers and try to get them to miss their shots – and they did that.

“We made a good decision to play man, and it worked out for us,” said Tamburri.

“We kind of pressured them the whole time, and they did a great job,” added Mike Koehler, Marlboro’s coach.

The Bombers contained six-foot, five-inch Alex Smith, another Duke post threat, in the first half, holding him scoreless. In the second half, Smith scored all of his 17 points from around the floor as he hit a three and went six for eight from the foul line.

“Everybody contributed. The third and fourth quarters, [Smith] was huge,” said Koehler.

The Dukes, 14-4, now get ready for the Section 9, Class A playoffs after losing to Red Hook 80-67 earlier this season. They may have to play them again if Marlboro wants to win a sectional title, but Koehler said his team is now ready.

“It shows you anything is possible. We have to believe going into it,” he said.

Tyler Lydon led the Bombers with 16 points.

By Bond Brungard
sports@tcnewspapers.com