The 2024-25 basketball season began excellently for the Horace Greeley Quakers with an exciting and strong start. The highly anticipated roster played their opening game in the Sleepy Hollow tournament against Hastings. From the tip-off, Greeley wasted no time, as Zach Boyriven quickly sank three three-pointers, sparking a 13-0 run to start the game. This fast-paced, high-scoring momentum has been a defining feature of the Quakers’ early season, with their explosive offense—led by Boyriven—propelling them to a 3-1 record.
After the strong opening, Greeley dominated Hastings, cruising to a 73-43 victory. Boyriven was the standout, scoring 29 points and hitting seven three-pointers. Hastings struggled to contain Boyriven on the perimeter, allowing him to rack up points with ease. Junior Jaxon Thomas made a significant contribution, adding 12 points off the bench. Thomas, who showed flashes of potential last season, looks poised for a breakout year, and his performance in the tournament’s opening game was a promising sign for the team.
In the tournament final, Greeley faced Hen Hud, where they encountered some adversity. Starting power forward Jake Sheehy ran into foul trouble and eventually fouled out of the game. Despite this, Sheehy finished with 16 points and has looked like a major improvement from last season. Senior leader Jordan Nadel also struggled with foul trouble but provided crucial minutes when the team needed him most. With Sheehy and Nadel both in foul trouble, Junior Sam Bourne stepped in to play key minutes in his first significant varsity appearance. Bourne, who starred on JV last season, handled the pressure of the tournament championship well, delivering excellent passes and grabbing key rebounds. Boyriven scored 30 points to lead Greeley and was named the tournament MVP, while Sheehy and sophomore Levi Sack earned spots on the all-tournament team. Sack, the only underclassman on the varsity roster, has proven to be a matchup nightmare with his ability to create shots off the dribble and hit three-pointers.
Sack’s true breakout game came in the team’s next matchup against John Jay East Fishkill, where he hit 5-of-5 from three-point range in the first quarter and finished with 22 points. The backcourt of Boyriven and Sack is already one of the best in the section, and it could be the key to the Quakers having their best season since their state championship run in 2019-20. However, despite Sack’s hot shooting, Greeley found themselves down by 17 points in the third quarter. Coach Simone then switched to a 1-2-2 press defense, which proved highly effective, forcing turnovers and allowing the Quakers to claw their way back into the game. Unfortunately, Greeley fell short in a heartbreaking 68-67 loss, with some questionable officiating decisions and a last-second shot by Nadel just missing the mark. Both Nadel and senior Ryder Goodman provided energy with their rebounding and tough interior play. Though Nadel may not always fill up the stat sheet, his impact as a center is felt in many ways, and he remains an X-factor for the team in a section loaded with talented big men. Despite the loss, the team showed resilience, fighting back from a significant deficit and proving they could compete at a high level.
The Quakers got a chance to bounce back just 48 hours later in their first home game of the season against Mahopac. The game was close throughout, with Greeley holding a slim 39-37 lead after three quarters. However, the Quakers broke the game open with a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, securing a 59-45 victory. Boyriven again led the charge with 26 points, while Sheehy and Sack added 10 and 12 points, respectively.
With a 3-1 record to start the season, the Quakers have shown tremendous promise. Boyriven’s remarkable scoring, combined with the strong play of Sack, Nadel, Sheehy, and others, has given the team the confidence to aim for a deep playoff run and a potential section championship.
