RIVERDALE, NY – Junior Joe Cooke (Mount Vernon, NY/Fordham Prep) went 7-10 from three-point range on Saturday and Chris Rocco (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) posted 21 points, but it was not

Derek Charlton recorded his fourth double-double of the season posting 13 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday.

enough to beat the pre-season favorite in the Skyline Conference. Farmingdale St. used 33 points from Damien Santana to pull out a 90-83 win in each team's conference opener at Hayes Gymnasium.

After trading baskets early on, the Dolphins jumped out to a seven point lead with 15:16 to go in the first half when Cooke knocked down a three to make the score 17-10. The Rams would then score the next nine to points to take a two point lead after a three-pointer from Peter Lipka.

The Dolphins would regain the lead at 26-25 with 9:48 left in the half and would extend the lead to 11 points when Rocco buried a jumper with just over three minutes to play in the frame. After a second 9-0 spurt by the Rams to cut the Mount lead to 47-44, the Dolphins closed the half on a jumper from Justin Baylosis (East Rockaway, NY/Archbishop Molloy) with six seconds left to take a three point advantage at 50-47 to the intermission.

The Dolphins shot a blistering .563 from the field in the first half, including 7-11 from behind the arc. Cooke went 6-8 from the floor and 5-6 from long range in the half to finish the opening frame with 19 points. Rocco and Derek Charlton (Yonkers, NY/St. Raymond's) also finished in double-figures in the half, scoring 11 and 10 respectively.

The Dolphins maintained the lead to start the second half and would open an eight point advantage with just over nine minutes to play in regulation when Eric Lastres (Bayside, NY/Archbishop Molloy) knocked down a pair of free-throws.

With 6:37 remaining, Santana knocked downed a three to tie the score at 72-72. On its next possession, Farmingdale would take the lead when Brian Robinson finished a lay-up to give the Rams a 74-72 advantage. The Dolphins would tie the score at 74-74 on a pair of free throws from Rocco, but the Rams reeled off the next five straight to take the lead for good. Baylosis knocked down a three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining to cut the lead to two, but that would be as close as the Dolphins would get the rest of the afternoon.

Santana scored 18 of his 33 points in the second half, going 7-12 from the field and 2-3 from long range. Rocco finished the second half strong as well, netting 10 points in the final period.

Lester Owens (Manalapan, NJ/St. Joseph's-Metuchen) chipped in seven assists and two rebounds on the day, while Kevin Garlan (Jackson Heights, NY/Archbishop Molloy) finished with six points, four rebounds and three helpers.

Cooke finished the game with 26 points, while Charlton continued his strong work on the boards, ripping down 11 on the afternoon. He finished with a double-double, as he scored 13 points.

For the game, the Mount went 28-60 (.467) from the field and knocked down 10 of its 24 three-point opportunities. The Dolphins were out rebounded on the afternoon 43-31, but held a 19-16 advantage in second chance points.

The loss snaps a three game winning streak and the Mount to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the Skyline Conference. The Dolphins will return to the hardwood on Tuesday, December 4 at Old Westbury. Tip-Off with the Panthers is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.