Game photos by STEVE HARRISON, gallery of game and seniors below:
The Hornell Red Raiders honored the 2023 seniors Wednesday night as they hosted the Wayland-Cohocton Eagles for the final game of the regular season.
Before the game, coach Kirk Scholes recognized his senior players and parents, thanking them for a great season. “You guys have been an absolute pleasure to coach,” commented Scholes. “I’m proud of how far you guys have come, and I look forward to seeing where you all end up in the future. Remember to strive for your goals, follow your heart, and remember where you came from.”
With the starting seniors, Shawn Rose, Wyatt Argentieri, Gates Miller, Radleyralf Ranin, and Hakim Tigner, the Raiders came out strong and held a solid 14-8 lead and the end of the first quarter. Hornell grew the lead to 34-15 at the half. Gennaro Picco led all scorers with 29 points in the 74-36 win against the Eagles. Seniors Shawn Rose (10), Gates Miller (9), Hakim Tigner (7), Radleyralf Ranin (5), and Wyatt Argentieri (3) all chipped in buckets for the Raiders. Way-Co’s Matt Feinman led his team with 15 points on the night.
The Red Raiders end the regular season with a 6-game winning streak and an impressive 16-4 record. They are seeded #1 in Section V Class B2 and are Livingston County Division 1 Champs this season. Hornell has a bye in the first round of sectionals and will face the winner of the Mynderse Academy / Penn Yan matchup on Saturday, Feb. 25.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
#23 Hakim Tigner
“Hakim has done a great job this season. He’s brought energy to every practice. He plays so hard, and he’s tough as nails. Hakim has a knack for putting the ball in the bucket from difficult angles. He sometimes scores, and I think to myself, ‘How did he make that shot?’ He has had a great attitude all season and has worked hard on his game. ‘Dream’ is known as an extremely physical player and a hard worker. He also has a way of not complicating the game and keeps everybody loose! He’s been a great addition to our team this year!” – Coach Scholes
#21 Radleyralf Ranin
“Radley came to us this year from the Philippines. He has been a pleasure to coach! He’s a great kid and a great teammate. Radley is someone that I know will grow up be extremely successful. ‘Rad Dog’ loves to shoot the 3. He’s got quick hands on defense. I’m going to miss Radley a ton. I just wish I had more time to coach him.” – Coach Scholes
#10 Wyatt Argentieri
‘Warg’ is the hardest worker I’ve ever coached! He’s an absolute ball of energy. His energy is contagious at practice and games. If you don’t work hard against him, he will embarrass you. Wyatt has been a great leader for us this year. He made great strides this past summer. He never missed a summer league game or an open gym. He worked on his game, and it shows. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a kid that made more growth in one calendar year than Wyatt. He accepts coaching and is willing to play out of position to help the team win games. I’m going to miss his energy, tenacity, and hustle!” – Coach Scholes
#11 Gates Miller
“Gates is a 3-year varsity player. He’s had a really good senior season. Gates is our quiet leader. He doesn’t say much, but when he does you know it’s important. Gates really is our X-factor on both ends. When he plays well, we are very difficult to beat. He’s super tough and has guarded points guards to centers. He’s probably our kid that boxes out the best. Gates is also a very selfless kid. He cares about the team. He always has put the team first in all of the sports that he plays. I think he’s coming into his own late in the year and playing his best basketball right now. I’m going to miss his shooting, versatility, and toughness!” – Coach Scholes
#4 Shawn Rose
“Shawn is super athletic and one of the quickest kids defensively I’ve ever coached. He’s an extremely smart player that can do so many things on the court. He’s led our team in steals and is great in transition. Shawn is just starting to realize how good he can be. Shawn also provides toughness to our team as well, even though he’s one of our smallest guys. He leads our team in charges taken. Shawn has the ability to get others to follow him. Kids gravitate to him, and he leads by example. I’m going to miss Shawn’s personality, on-ball defense, and grit.” – Coach Scholes
