Millbrook players celebrate their 59-54 victory over North Salem in the state regional semifinal at SUNY New Paltz March 7, 2017.
A la bio, a la bao, a la bim bom ba,
Humberto, Humberto, rah rah rah
That Spanish chant — well, a version of it — is commonly belted out during Mexican soccer games in celebration of success in big moments.
The SUNY New Paltz gymnasium on Tuesday night was treated to, umm, sabor de México. That cheer rang out from the Millbrook side with Humberto Cabrera’s name substituted in place of his family’s native land. And with reason.
Cabrera scored 12 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Millbrook boys basketball team over North Salem High School, 59-54, in a Class C regional final.
“It basically means ‘hooray,’ and it’s something you yell to support a player,” said Cabrera’s cousin, Kimberly Baeza-Jimenez, who was joined by several family members including Humberto’s sister, Lupita Cabrera. “We’re extremely proud of him and the team, so we gave them a little traditional cheer.”
CLASS B: Spackenkill defeats Pleasantville, advances in regional tourney
LOHUD: Cabrera, Sinon lead Millbrook past North Salem 59-54
WHAT’S NEXT?: State playoff schedule
In whatever language, Millbrook is giddy.
The Blazers, enjoying a resurgent season, advance to face Section 11 champion Stony Brook in a regional final on Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Suffolk CC-Selden on Long Island.
“It’s amazing and we want to keep this going,” said Cabrera, a junior. “We’re having a lot of fun with this and that’s motivation to push harder. We made some huge plays at the end.”
Millbrook’s Humberto Cabrera (3) drives to the basket against North Salem during the state regional semifinal at SUNY New Paltz March 7, 2017. Hillbrook won the game 59-54.
Himself included. The guard drained a three-pointer to give Millbrook the lead, 47-46, with 3:53 remaining. Shane Sinon hit two threes to help stave off North Salem, and Drew Jackson’s offensive rebound of a missed free throw with three seconds left — preceding Colby Whalen’s free throws — sealed the win.
“Coming into this, coach (Bill Kyle) said it would probably be a five-point game and he was right,” Jackson said. “It was gonna come down to which team made the crucial plays at the end. That was us.”
It has been them for most of this season. Millbrook crushed Tri-Valley by 35 points last week to win its first Section 9 championship since 2009. Cabrera erupted for 31 points in that contest.
But this game, Kyle said, “was a good test of our will. And we came through it… We refuse to lose.”
Sinon, a transfer from Franklin D. Roosevelt, has been instrumental in the turnaround. In him, the Blazers have a reliable secondary scorer and his perimeter shooting helps space the floor. The junior scored 12 points, including three three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Patrick Kyle added nine points and Whalen scored six.
The game was close throughout — it was tied at 26 at halftime — but Millbrook outscored the Tigers, 23-15, in the fourth. Cabrera’s driving layup, going the length of the court and weaving through the defense, gave the Blazers a 52-48 lead with 49 seconds left. That elicited more cheers from the crowd, and an emphatic fist pump from the coach.
“We go as ‘Berto goes,” Bill Kyle said. “He’s incredible. You could see that fire in his eyes. He wasn’t gonna come off this floor as a loser.”
From right, Millbrook’s Drew Jackson (11) battles for a rebound with North Salem’s Miles D’Alessandro (22) in basketball action during the state regional semifinal at SUNY New Paltz March 7, 2017.
Miles D’Alessandro scored 17 points for North Salem (17-7). John Martabano added 13 points and Chris Alterio, one of the focal points of the Blazers’ defense, was held to eight points.
Jackson, reserved afterward, said the team would celebrate its victory by simply, “getting back and preparing for our next opponent.”
Cabrera’s family seemed a little more festive, though. As did the rest of the Millbrook fans, who shouted several cheers during the rollicking fourth quarter.
“’Berto brings the best fans!” Bill Kyle said with a chuckle. “I have no idea what they’re saying, but it’s all good.”
¡Todo está bién!
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
From right, Millbrook’s Humberto Cabrera (3) tries to get around North Salem’s Chris Alterio (23) in basketball action during the state regional semifinal at SUNY New Paltz March 7, 2017.
From left, Millbrook’s Shane Sinon (15) and Humberto Cabrera (3) put pressure on North Salem’s Chris Alterio (23) during basketball action during the state regional semifinal at SUNY New Paltz March 7, 2017.