Sports

Boys and girls basketball season has arrived! Practice began a few weeks ago and the students are excited to get the season started. Led by Coach Downes, the Boys' team is looking strong, as well as the Girls', led by Ms. Doane. Their first game is on January 7th, 2011, and if you are not on the team we hope you come to the brand new gym to cheer your friends on! Go Hawks!

Boys Basketball Highlights

Girls Basketball Highlights

__Saints Shock Colts To Win Super Bowl XLIV__

Four and a half years after the devestating effects of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is finally back to being the exciting city it once was. Why? Well because the "Who Dat" Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl 44 in Miami. Once called the "Aints", the Saints have had a tough go during their 42-year existence. They had been known for huge collapses, playoff failures, and even fans wearing paper bags in shame of the team. But that's not the case anymore! The Saints are now Super Bowl Champions, and all that is left is a trip to Walt Disney World to celebrate. Congrats Who Dat Nation!

For more on the Super Bowl, read the upcoming Issue 2 of The Hawk for an extended article on the big game.

__J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets!!__

If anyone thought the Jets would make the playoffs last month, most people would laugh in your face and say that it's impossible. But here we are in late January, and the J-E-T-S Jets are just 60 minutes away from a trip to the Super Bowl!

Why? Well because the Jets stormed back in December and was able to clinch a playoff berth on the last game of the season! Then after a win against the Bengals to advance to the Divisional Round, the team took down the heavily favored San Deigo Chargers 17-14 to go to the AFC Championship game, where they will face Peyton Manning and the 14-2 Colts.

In his first year as head coach, Rex Ryan isn't surprised at all at the Jets' amazing run so far. "We knew we had a good football team and our guys never once stopped believing in the talent that we had in our locker room." Ryan said. "They believed in the system and they knew we were doing things the right way and I think that’s why we were able to hang on to that rope and pull the same direction and find a way to get it done."

The Jets (11-7) need just one more win to advance to Super Bowl 44 in Miami, and although they are facing arguably the best team in the NFL, many are feeling a ticker-tape parade is on the horizon. Go Jets!!!

Pocantico Hills Basketball Underway Enrico

The basketball season has kicked off. Practices have started and Pocantico is excited for the season to get going. With practices until 5:15 everyday Monday-Friday, Pocantico looks to be a strong competitor this year, both the boys and the girls. Running, drills and scrimmages get the teams into shape and get them ready for the season opener. Both teams look to have very successful years and look to make the Pocantico School proud, yet again like they always do. The boys’ first game is at Briarcliff on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010, at 4:15. The girls look to get their season started with a win on the same day at the same time but at home against Briarcliff. What a better way to also start off the New Year than with two Poco wins.

__THE YANKEES ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!__ Brian

For the 27th time in their history, the New York Yankees are once again World Series Champions. The Bombers beat the defending champion Phillies in six games to win the 2009 World Series this past November.

It was a very exciting series; the Phillies won the first game, and then the Yankees came back and won the next three straight before losing Game five at Philadelphia. But on a beautiful night back at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees returned to the top, by beating the Phillies 7-3 in game six to start a very big celebration in the Bronx. Hideki Matsui was named the MVP of the Series, as he hit three home runs and drove in 6 of the Yankees’ 7 runs in game six. The 35-year old really appreciates the job his team did and how much this championship means to “Godzilla.”

“I guess you could say this is the best moment of my life right now,” Matsui told Fox Sports through an interpreter. “My first and foremost goal when I joined the Yankees was to win the world championship,” Matsui said. “Certainly, it’s been a long road and very difficult journey. But I’m just happy that after all these years we were able to win and reach the goal that I had come here for.”

Manager Joe Girardi, who sported the #27 on his back since becoming the Yankees manager in 2008, did an amazing job for the organization, as he guided the team to 103 wins, an AL East division crown, and AL Pennant, and a World Series championship. He certainly deserves a big thank you from the fans and more specifically, owner George Steinbrenner.

“Well, this is what the Steinbrenner family has strived for year after year after year and has tried to deliver to the city of New York,” Girardi told Fox Sports after the game. “George Steinbrenner and his family are champions. To be able to deliver this to The Boss, the stadium that he created and the atmosphere he has created around here is very gratifying for all of us.”

The newly acquired players – CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher, all played a big part to the Yankees winning number 27. Both Teixeira and Swisher hit over 25 home runs, A.J. Burnett won thirteen games, and CC Sabathia actually won 19. If that’s not money well spent, I don’t know what is.

The 2009 New York Yankees will always be remembered as one of the greatest teams ever to take the field. So many players, from Derek Jeter to even the scrappy rookies like Ramiro Pena, all contributed in their own way. Having an entire roster that contributes will hopefully always bring home a championship.

But most importantly, the ’09 Yankees will always be remembered as one word – champions.

__The Hawks Kick Off to an Awesome Start __

__Soccer Schedule__ Monday 10/26- Pocantico's Boys and Girls team has an away game at Westlake Tuesday 10/27- Pocantico's Boys and Girls team has a home game Wednesday 10/28- Pocantico's Boys and Girls team has an away game at Rye Neck ~Lisa and Lila

This fall the Pocantico Hills soccer team kicked off to a great start. They changed their look too – it’s now a co-ed team! There are so few girls in the middle school this year, and even less who wanted to play soccer, that there weren’t enough girls to form a team. So they joined the boys!

The 6th graders can only practice not play in games, but the 7th and 8th graders are doing an awesome job! Their first game against Rye Neck was a loss, with a final score of 4-3. But, as the team got better, they tied with Pleasantville and won against Blindbrook, 4-0. At practices, hard drills, conditioning, running, stretching and scrimmaging are all part of what helps the team improve. Everyone works hard to achieve their best during games, and there isn’t a player who doesn’t understand the importance of teamwork. Go Hawks! by Sabine

__ Yankees Take Game 1 Thanks To CC's Masterpie​ce __ October 8, 2009

The Yankees began their quest for a 27th World title back on Wednesday, as the Bombers opened up the ALDS against the Twins at the new Yankee Stadium. The red, white, and blue postseason bunting were displayed on the facade of the upper decks, the "ALDS" logo was painted on both sides of the field, and October baseball was in the air, as the Yanks got off to a hot start as CC Sabathia forgot all about his struggles in the playoffs and allowed only 1 earned run, and A-Rod drove in 2 runs as the Yanks took Game 1 of the ALDS 7-2.

For a more detailed look at the game, as well as other Yankee news, log on to [|www.yankeeskidtalk.com].