ROSCOE –– The Livingston Manor Wildcats hosted the Chapel Field Lions on an uncharacteristically warm December night last for a non-league boys basketball game. The Wildcats were able to get a 46-29 win over Chapel Field on Manor’s home court.

The first quarter opened with the Wildcats drawing first blood. Manor’s defense was proving to be more than Chapel Field bargained for with Kaleb Maldonato getting multiple steals at half court that he was able to convert into easy layups. The Wildcats’ defense forced several turnovers, turned into scoring opportunities putting Manor up by 12.

The second quarter opened with Chapel Field looking a little flustered after their earlier performance. They picked up a couple travel calls early on and seemed like they were rushing their passes and shot attempts. Manor, was hitting a flow state with good inside passes to Logan Park for the easy layup. Kaleb Maldonato was busy behind the arc hitting the 3-point shot. Halfway through the quarter Manor was leading Chapel Field 24-8. 

In the final minutes Chapel Field was able to go on a 10-point run that started to close Manor’s lead. But the Wildcats were still able to end the quarter up 24-18 over the Lions. 

Chapel Field came out of halftime ready to put up a fight scoring early in the third quarter closing the gap to three points exhibiting much better play. Manor struggled to find the basket but they were able to finish strong with a few clutch layups that put them up 31-25 going into the final quarter. 

The Wildcats’ Logan Park opened the fourth quarter with a huge block into a fast break layup on the other end of the court. It seemed as though Manor’s earlier fast paced and aggressive defense from the first half was making a return appearance. However, it was still anyone’s game with Chapel Field sinking some deep threes with the Lions down by seven with six minutes left in the game. 

But Manor responded with a run of defensive stops that they were able to convert into fast break layups by both Kaleb Maldonato and Ben Johnson to put the Wildcats up 42-28 with only three minutes left. Manor widened their lead and the Wildcats finished the game with a 46-29 home win over the Chapel Field Lions. 

Livingston Manor Coach Charlie Hicks had this to say after the game, “It was a hard fought game against a good appointment. We came out hot and then got a little cold toward the middle but we finished strong the way we should. We’re very excited for the rest of the season, this is just the tip of the iceberg for us.”