Red Hook's (N.Y.) Chando Wins 600th

ED HOOK — Red Hook High School boys basketball coach Rod Chando picked up his 600th career win as the Raiders defeated Webutuck 81-21 in Mid-Hudson Athletic League play on Thursday. 

 "It just reminds me of how long and what a ride it was," Chando said. "It's a lot of fun, all the great kids who played for me all these years. They were the ones who put those numbers up there." 

With his 600th win, Chando, a Marlboro High School graduate, moved into sole possession of sixth place in New York state in wins among boys basketball coaches.

"It's no secret he's a great coach. It's just great coming out and playing every day and learning," said Red Hook's Ryan Dalton, who finished with a game-high 20 points and 11 assists.

Chando's first win in the 1971-72 season wasn't even on the court. Red Hook lost its season opener to Liberty and then won the game by forfeit after losing nine straight because Liberty was competing with an ineligible player.

"That was our first win — a forfeit," Chando said. "I'm really partial to the kids who played for me all the time. From the first year or two, you think of the kids that played for you back then. They're still coaching, they're still your friends."

Chando's assistant coach, Rich Dalzell, played on the coach's first Red Hook team in 1971-72.

"The thing that strikes me is that he's now 62, and he's still got the same enthusiasm he had as a first-year coach," Dalzell said.

In the first half, Red Hook went on runs of 9-0 to start the first quarter and 13-0 to end the period with a 28-4 lead. Dalton had 11 first-quarter points.

In the second quarter, Webutuck's Andrew Schultz scored the period's first basket and hit a free throw, but the Raiders went on a 20-0 run to end the half with a 48-7 advantage.

Red Hook outscored Webutuck 34-14 in the second half.

Chris Loftus added 16 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks and Yegor "George" Stjupan chipped in with 14 points for Red Hook (9-2). Nine different Raiders scored in the game.

Schultz led Webutuck (0-10) with six points.