Leading off today: Poughkeepsie High School senior
Caval Haylett Jr., 18, died Thursday hours after being shot once in the head while on his way home following the Dutchess County Basketball Coaches Association Exceptional Seniors Game on Wednesday.
The honor roll student was remembered as well-liked and a hard worker.
"He had a bright future," Ralph Coates, president of the board of education told the Poughkeepsie Journal.
No arrests had been made as of late Friday morning, a police spokesman told the paper. New Mayor Rob Rolison, a former police officer, released a statement saying, "The city is committing every resource to bringing this man's killer to justice."
Detective Lt. Matt Clark described the area where the incident occurred as "one of the more active areas of the city" for criminal activity. Plans call for increased patrols of the area, and security has been stepped up at the high school.
According to Hudson Valley Sports Report, Caval had scored 21 points in the all-star contest and was carrying his plaque designating him as an all-county selection.
CHSAA update: Junior guard Idan Tretout scored a team-high 19 points as Bishop Loughlin ended the three-year CHSAA reign of Christ the King by winning 68-64 in the semifinals at St. Johns University.
"Idan did a great job and he stepped up," Loughlin coach Ed Gonzalez told MSG Varsity.
The Lions placed four scorers in double figures. Markquis Nowell had 13 points, Keith Williams 12 and Jordan Thomas 10 as Loughlin, in the hunt for its first crown since 1992, reached Sunday's final against Brooklyn rival Xaverian. The winner advances to the Federation tournament next weekend.
Christ the King remained close despite foul trouble for junior point guard and league MVP Jose Alvarado (5 points). Senior Jared Rivers scored a team high 21 points.
Tretout hit a corner 3-pointer and Thomas made a layup to give Loughlin a 62-56 lead with 1:41 left to pull away.
In the other semi, Nyonty Wisseh clinched the game with four free throws in the final :13 as Xaverian toppled Archbishop Molloy 57-55 Wednesday. The 6-foot-3 senior who scored all 16 of his points in the second half.
"I just stayed calm and pick it up when my team needs it," Wisseh said. "We were still in a close game but I tried to pick it up much better to help my team win."
Xaverian will play for its first championship since 2005.
The annual reminder: A totally forgot to mention it earlier in the week, but The Post-Star is up and running with its NYSPHSAA boys basketball tournament website, a must-see for keeping up with developments in all 15 games this weekend.
