Ice Hockey
On Dec. 20, the Cortlandt Rebels merged ice hockey workforce suffered a 4-1 loss to Horace Greeley at Brewster Ice Arena. The Rebels’ lone objective got here from Putnam Valley’s Stephen Kjartansson, assisted by Hen Hud’s Sean Foley. Goaltender Brandon DiBenedetto turned apart 38 pictures within the defeat.
The Rebels bounced again the next day, Dec. 21, with a 6-3 victory over Mahopac. The Wolf Pac struck first on the 16:30 mark of the opening interval to take a 1-0 lead, however Cortlandt responded simply six seconds later when Putnam Valley’s Aiden Dzubak scored an unassisted objective. The Rebels seized momentum from there, highlighted by a three-goal efficiency from Foley, and carried a 4-1 benefit into the primary break.
The second interval was extra subdued, with Mahopac scoring as soon as with 1:12 remaining to chop the deficit to 4-2.
In the third interval, Hudson Tarkington (Walter Panas) scored twice for Cortlandt, whereas Mahopac added a comfort objective to shut out the scoring at 6-3. Dzubak completed the sport with three assists, Anthony Costa (Lakeland) added one help, and DiBenedetto recorded 35 saves in web.
Now 3-6 on the season, the Cortlandt Rebels return to motion on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, after they face BYSNS (Brewster, Yorktown, Somers, North Salem) at Brewster Ice Arena at 4 p.m.
10 Questions with Maria Ribeiro (Girls Basketball)
Maria Ribeiro, a junior at Hendrick Hudson High School, is a three-year varsity member of the women basketball workforce and performs level guard. She has gotten off to a powerful begin within the 2025–26 season, most lately averaging 20.5 factors and 11 rebounds in video games towards John Jay–Cross River and Pleasantville. Those performances earned her a nomination for lohud’s Girls Basketball Player of the Week for Dec. 15–21, an honor she went on to win with 41.22% of the vote.
Beyond faculty ball, Ribeiro competes on the journey AAU circuit with Team Lightning Melious UA Rise. She can also be a standout tri-sport athlete at Hen Hud, taking part in soccer within the fall and flag soccer within the spring. In May 2025, she was a part of the flag soccer workforce that captured this system’s first-ever Class C sectional championship.
“What I think sets me apart as a player is my consistent work ethic and my need to get constantly better,” Ribeiro instructed the Peekskill Herald.
How outdated had been you once you first began taking part in basketball, and what initially drew you to the game?
I first began taking part in basketball after I was 7 years outdated. I come from a really soccer primarily based household, and I’ve at all times beloved soccer however I needed to develop one thing by myself. I attempted baseball, I attempted lacrosse however what actually linked with me and the game I fell in love with was basketball. I started taking part in on a leisure workforce with a variety of the teammates I’ve now, together with Avery Motko, Carleigh Ortiz, Angelina Carbone, and Sophia Velardo. From there my love for the game simply stored rising and it grew to become one thing I used to be very captivated with. I additionally grew up watching a variety of basketball, I spent a variety of time with my cousin rising up so no matter he beloved I did as-well. I bear in mind he was an enormous Kyrie fan, and that’s the rationale that Kyrie is certainly one of my favourite gamers.
What do you get pleasure from most about being a member of the Hen Hud varsity ladies basketball workforce?
Being a member of the Hen Hud ladies varsity basketball workforce, means extra to me than simply being part of a workforce, slightly it’s extra of a second household. The atmosphere that the workforce offers might be what I get pleasure from most in regards to the workforce. Since I used to be a freshman on varsity, I’ve at all times had the workforce holding me accountable whereas additionally at all times having my again. I believe these are beliefs the workforce carries on all through the years.
As a multi-sport athlete, how do you handle balancing your athletic commitments with teachers?
As a multi-sport athlete, I keep my teachers my best precedence. I proceed to meet the expectations I’ve in being a excessive honor scholar all through everything of my scholar profession. I really feel that there’s at all times time for all the pieces in life, and if you’re devoted sufficient, you possibly can handle your time in excelling at school, and the sports activities you carry out in. Being in a position to cope with totally different priorities is one thing that I imagine will profit me enormously in life, in addition to all scholar athletes.
In what methods have Coach Megan Boyle and her workers contributed to your progress as a participant and as an individual?
Coach Meg and her workers have contributed enormously to my progress as a participant, and much more as an individual. I really feel every certainly one of them carry a big talent to the desk. Coach Meg is large on ensuring her workforce is united and blissful always, whereas additionally serving to them develop their abilities as basketball gamers. She has helped me lots with my confidence, and in not getting in my very own head, whereas additionally giving me the criticism obligatory for me to develop. One factor she does that sticks with me considerably is each day, we’ve a motivating quote of the day. Coach Kelsey is our assistant coach, and having her is really wonderful. She was initially my JV coach in seventh and eighth grade, so she has actually helped me develop, and is at all times there for me after I want somebody. This 12 months Coach Grace has joined our teaching workers, and she or he brings a brand new vitality that has considerably helped me and my teammates.
You put on quantity 13 on the courtroom—does that quantity maintain any particular significance for you?
Number 13 is a big quantity for my household, and the Portuguese neighborhood I come from. My household and I uphold many non secular values, and Our Lady of Fatima, is a big title within the Portuguese Catholic neighborhood. Our Lady of Fatima is well known on the thirteenth of May, and that’s additionally the date that each my dad and mom, and my grandparents received married. So the quantity 13 holds sentimental and non secular values for me and my household.
Who are a few of your largest function fashions, each in sports activities and in life, and what affect have they’d on you?
The largest function fashions in my life are my dad and mom. They have at all times pushed me to be the very best model of myself, they usually by no means surrender on me. They see the capabilities I’ve, they usually have given me all of the sources and help I must excel not solely as a participant, however as an individual. They have been by my aspect each step of the way in which, and I do know I wouldn’t be who I’m with out their fixed help. They moved right here and left the life they knew behind so I can get higher alternatives, and with that, I do know I must push myself at all times for them. Someone else who I believe is a large function mannequin in my life is my coach David Zenon, the quantity of improvement I’ve had all through the years wouldn’t be attainable with out him, each as a participant and as an individual. He has actually helped me develop a greater mentality and helped me have faith in myself.
Who would you say is the funniest teammate on the basketball workforce, and what makes them so entertaining throughout practices or bus rides?
My funniest teammate most likely must be Avery. Although our complete workforce is extraordinarily humorous, Avery is the one who you’d least count on it from. She could be silent at instances however if you happen to’re shut along with her she will undoubtedly make you chuckle with out even that means to.
What has been essentially the most memorable sport or second of your basketball profession up to now?
My most memorable sport of my basketball profession was our win over Pearl River within the playoffs final 12 months. After being sidelined with an harm, I believed my season could be over. But I pushed by means of the ache and did all the pieces I may to get better, and even not being at 100%, I used to be dedicated to taking part in in that sport. Coming off the bench I felt a direct affect on the workforce, my coronary heart was absolutely into the sport, and it introduced a spark onto the courtroom. Alongside my workforce, I used to be in a position to get some good stops, and knock down some large pictures, and our workforce ultimately got here out with the win.
What objectives do you hope to perform this season, each individually and as a workforce?
This season as a workforce, I do know getting that part title has been an enormous objective for us, and undoubtedly one thing we’ve set our eyes on for some time now. We have made it to the county middle two years in a row now, and we’re all hungry for this win, particularly our two senior captains. Individually, I hope I can proceed to make an affect on the courtroom at all times, whether or not or not it’s from scoring, or persevering with to be teammate. Or even doing all of the little issues and bringing that spark onto the courtroom. I would like to have the ability to assist my workforce win, and be chief who uplifts my workforce. I do know as a participant I’ve labored extraordinarily exhausting to develop my sport, and I would like to have the ability to make that proven.
What recommendation would you give to youthful gamers who aspire to play varsity basketball someday?
If I had been to provide recommendation to youthful gamers who aspire to play varsity basketball, I’d inform them that tough work is the important thing to success. No matter if somebody is larger than you, or stronger, or sooner, If you’ve gotten the guts, and you’re prepared to place within the work, the outcomes will present. Even once you assume you’re working exhausting sufficient, there’s at all times an additional push you can also make, and you’ll at all times work more durable. I’d additionally inform them that doing the little issues constantly effectively, will get you additional than something. If you’ll be able to be counted on on protection, or prepared to dive for these unfastened balls, that will probably be what units you aside.
Upcoming Games
Indoor Track & Field: U.S. Marine Corps Holiday Classic on Saturday, December 27.
Girls Basketball: Hen Hud vs. Mahopac (Mahopac Tournament) at Mahopac High School on Monday, December 29, at 5:00 p.m. Hen Hud vs. TBD (Mahopac Tournament) at Mahopac High School on Tuesday, December 30, time TBD. Alumni Game at house on Wednesday, December 31, at 10:00 a.m.
Other News
Justin Parkes named Westchester/Putnam All-Star
Hen Hud senior Justin Parkes has been named to Lohud’s 2025 Westchester/Putnam Football All-Stars Second Team.
Parkes capped off the 2025 season as certainly one of Hen Hud’s best gamers, serving to lead the Sailors to a 4-5 document. He delivered a record-breaking senior marketing campaign, setting new faculty marks for speeding yards and speeding touchdowns, turning into this system’s all-time main rusher, and tying the single-game document for speeding makes an attempt.
Parkes additionally made a big affect on particular groups, ending his profession with a program-best 4 kickoff return touchdowns.
“Justin was an absolute workhorse for us during his senior football season. Our opponents knew, the only way to stop Hen Hud was to try and stop #1,” Hen Hud varsity head coach Cole Coyle mentioned in an e mail to the Peekskill Herald. “He will excel at the next level, wherever that may be.”
William Loftin to Lead Hen Hud’s Boys Lacrosse Program
Hendrick Hudson has named William Loftin as the following head coach of the boys lacrosse program, starting in Spring 2026. The appointment was confirmed by the Hendrick Hudson Board of Education at its Dec. 3 assembly.
Stepping down is Troy Lepore, a Hendrick Hudson alumnus and Peekskill instructor who has led this system since 2017. During his tenure, Lepore guided the Sailors to sectional semifinal appearances in 2018, 2023, and 2024, and coached a number of athletes who went on to compete on the collegiate stage.
Lepore additionally labored to develop the game regionally, operating summer season lacrosse camps by means of the Town of Cortlandt for boys in grades one by means of eight.
In an e mail to the Peekskill Herald, Lepore mentioned the arrival of his first youngster this fall made the time calls for of main a varsity program now not possible. He additionally shared excessive reward for Hen Hud’s new head coach.
“Cannot say enough good things about Will Loftin,” Lepore wrote. “First, as a person he is tops. A great man, great family man. He knows the game well & was a pleasure to work with last season when he ran the JV team. He gets “it”. I’m wishing him & this system all one of the best going ahead.”