Convincing Wins For Loughlin and CK Set Up a Grand Finale Sunday

            

            The top teams in the Diocesan of Brooklyn and Queens each secured outstanding semi final wins in last night's "AA" intersectional final at Fordham University.  Christ the King and Bishop Loughlin have already played three amazing games; two during the regular season and one for the Diocesan title.  When they meet Sunday it will, appropriately be for the CHSAA's "AA" title and will be on a neutral site.  While tradition and contractual agreements say that the game will take place at Fordham in the Bronx, it's a game worthy of the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn; a game that Brooklyn basketball fans and fans throughout the city of all ages and stripes would no doubt enjoy.  The passion and skill of two great teams combined with the championship at stake will make for a great ballgame.  Here are recaps of Thursday's action that set the stage for this great final on Sunday at 3pm at Fordham.

Bishop Loughlin 78 Archbishop Stepinac 56 The Lions completed their journey to the finals by breaking this game open early. Balanced offense highlighted their efforts but their defense provided the most important spark.  All season long the Crusaders had been able to beat teams by spreading the floor and using precise outside shooting. The Lions, perhaps better than any team Stepinac faced this season, were able to defend them on the perimeter at all 5 positions and when Stepinac began missing shots the transition opportunities were waiting for Loughlin. Jordan DelaCruz got them started with two early treys and Jordan Nanton was terrific pushing tempo. Mike Williams led Loughlin with  Mike Williams led the way with 17 points 9 rebounds and 3 steals. Kadeem Carrington and Jordan Nanton had 12 and 11 points respectively while each had 6 assists. Monmouth commit Josh James finished with 35 points and Niam THomas added 12 but Loughlin's suffocating defense and quick transition game proved decisive.

Christ the King 65 Cardinal Hayes 59 Christ the King did a terrific job grinding this game out and combating what was a great effort from the Cardinals. Sturdy senior forward Ramel Coleman combined with junior perimeter stars Shavar Newkirk and Chris Robinson to lift Hayes to an early advantage. But with early help from Andre Walker outside and Adonis Delarosa inside the Royals trailed by just one at the end of the first quarter. In the second a late rally triggered by continued good work in the paint from DeLarosa and a clutch triple from reserve Isaiah Cothbert lifted the Royals to a 32-27 halftime advantage.

            While the rest of the Royals had helped build that margin, player of the year Jon Severe was having moments both good and bad in the game. He scored 7 in the opening two quarters, including a tough contested trey from the top of the key, and two nice assists. But thanks in part to leg cramps and in part to a great bit of shadow defense from Tyler Wilson, the Royals needed to rely on players like Cothbert (11 off the bench) Delarosa (10 points 10 caroms) and Malik Harmon (13 point 6 assists and one great feed to Rawle Alkins for a basket) to give them key minutes and points. Harmon was exceptional as Severe was on the bench having those cramps tended to.

            Severe was able to give his team one last important play that was typically clutch for him. With his team leading by just 2 with just under 2 minutes left Sever inbounded the ball and perched himself in the familiar left wing spot where he has made so many of his 1,000 points for the Royals. The ball came his way and despite pain and a difficult night rose up with his familiar confidence and buried the trey. With a 5 point advantage the Royals held off Hayes despite a quick response from Chris Robinson who finished with a game high 23 for Hayes while Newkirk added 14. This game, though it was a semi-final was worthy of a championship game. Both teams made championship efforts and CK emerged victorious.  Take nothing away from the Cardinals, who played like champions in defeat and with nearly all of their core (save for Wilson and Coleman) returning they set the stage for a great 2013-14.

            

CHSAA "AA" Quarter Final Sunday at Fordham

            

            The annual quarter final Sunday for the CHSAA "AA" division is annually one of the best days of the year for New York's gym rats. It provides a chance to see some of the city's top teams and players mad do so in an audience that includes coaches from all levels of college basketball.  Save for Stepinac's win over a young St. Raymond's squad that experienced the intensity of post season basketball for the first time this year, the seeding held form. Molloy nearly sprung a second upset over New York #2 seed Cardinal Hayes in a game that featured a great individual battle between two of the area's top guards. Here is a recap of the day's action action with some observations.

Stepinac 68 St. Ray's 51 St. Ray's came into this game with the defending champion's tag but it should be noted that the Ravens had a brand new group and a coach both going through their first varsity season together. In the first quarter they gave fans a glimpse of how good they could be.  Sophomore point guard Jaequan McKennon and fellow soph center helped the Ravens sprint to a 20-10 first quarter advantage. McKennon was terrific penetrating for both assists and scores while Santos showed the soft hands and shooting touch around the basket that make him recruitable at the highest level for college. After that fast beginning Stepinac's talented and experienced guards slowly but surely gained control of the game with their 3 point shooting and skillful playmaking.. With assistant coaches and CHSAA alums Brian Reese and Derrick Phelps in the audience Monmouth College commit Josh James scored 17 points and helped junior star Niam Thomas to a game high 22 for the Crusaders.  Shawn James had a strong 17 points trying to help the Ravens battle back once they fell behind, but Stepinac had too much balance and too much three point shooting and salted the game away. Lo

Bishop Loughlin 72 Iona Prep 59 This game featured two of the area's top shooters in sophomore Matt Ryan of Iona and junior  Mike Williams of Loughlin and both players were outstanding. Ryan, a deceptively athletic 6'6" forward combined with junior guard Isaiah Ice and senior swingman Brandon Williams to help the Gaels regroup from a slow start in the second quarter. He was much more assertive than he had been in their opening round win and when he followed Ice's jumper with a deep pull up trey of his own the Gaels were right in the thick of things. Ryan finished with a game high 24 points for the Gaels but Loughlin's balance and a great all around effort from Williams was the difference. After Iona's second quarter burst Williams and fellow junior Kadeem Carrington helped trigger a 9-0 burst to help the Lions take a 37-28 lead into halftime.  From there Williams not only had a team high 22 points but had an outstanding game playmaking, getting big man Anthony Vernon involved and finding fellow junior Kadeem Carrington in great positions for his patented slashes and short jumpers. He finished with 21 points of his own. Loughlin's 3 guards Williams, Carrington and senior Jordan Nanton have gotten better and better as the season has progressed playing together and involving their teammates.  Their improvement could be what lifts Loughlin to a title run

Cardinal Hayes 67 Archbishop Molloy 66  Early in the game Hayes' defense and Shavar Newkirk's finishing ability helped the Cardinals to a fast start and ironically Molloy's first offensive push came from inside with Marco Kozul and junior energy guy Jason Cethoute scoring around the basket. Kozul's putback as the second quarter expired capped a late rally and put the Stanners behind by just 2 points (28-26)at halftime.  From there a great individual battle began between the two stellar junior guards Newkirk for Hayes and CJ Davis for Molloy and each player lifted their teams by playing to their strengths. For Newkirk, that meant attacking the basket relentlessly and finishing fearlessly through contact  For Davis, it meant making great decisions about when to shoot and when to drive, while showing his usual vision and passing skill. He and senior guard Chazz Watler, who had a couple of tough spinning drives gave Molloy a brief advantage as the third quarter ran down but Newkirk capped off what had been a terrific third quarter with a bit of magic, a three quarter court shot that swished perfectly through the hoop and tied the game at 52 as the fourth quarter began.

            From there as the two stars continued to perform exceptionally well, other players such as Watler for Molloy and junior Mustafa Jones for Hayes made key plays.  A Davis jumper and an inside basket by Jason Cethoute gave Molloy a 62-58 lead with just under 4 minutes left but a one hander by Jones and the subsequent free throw shaved that quickly to a one point deficit. After the teams traded misses Hayes took the lead on a follow basket at 65-64 Newkirk then drew a foul an extended the lead to 67-64. Watler's tough spinning basket cut the lead to one in the closing moments and Molloy gave themselves a chance when they forced turnovers on Hayes inbounding play not once but twice.  The first time the officials missed the call and the second time Christian Giles played terrific denial defense forcing a double tip and giving the Stanners possession. At that point Hayes played some great defense of their own, forcing Molloy to call time out with 4.8 seconds left and then forcing a tough three pointer from Isaiah Tucker as time expired. Newkirk lead all scorers with 28 points for Hayes while Jones added 16  C.J. Davis had 25 for Molloy while Watler, who was especially good after Davis had foul trouble added 15 points.

Christ the King 82 St. Peter's 66 Christ the King won this game as handily as most expected, but not before fans who stayed for the nightcap got a glimpse of one of the city's best and most unknown guards Glen Sanabria. Against a Royals' team full of top flight athletes that was keying on his penetration, he not only scored 23 points but showed terrific passing skill and a tight handle.  He will be one of the most interesting players to follow this summer because while his small stature might scare some coaches off he's strong skilled and tough and I will go on record now and say that he's a division one prospect.

            For the Royals, Jon Severe, with many of his suitors in attendance scored 14 points while junior Andre Walker added Rylie Aikins added 13 each.  CK got strong production off the bench not only from freshman Aikins but from sophomore Travis Allen to secure a semi final birth Thursday at Fordham against Hayes. Loughlin will face Stepinac in the other semi final at Fordham.                               

CHSAA "AA" Quarter Finals Set

              

          On Wednesday and Thursday four teams won second round games to advance to the quarter finals of the CHSAA's "AA" division. On Sunday these winners will take on the top seeds, St. Ray's and Hayes on the New York side along with Loughlin and Christ the King on the Brooklyn Queens side,to advance in the 2013 intersectional playoffs held Sunday at Fordham University. Here is a brief recap of the action.

Wedmesday at St. Francis Prep

Molloy 70 Fordham Prep 51 The Stanners never allowed Fordham Prep to establish the deliberate tempo that helped them spring some upsets during the season. Josh Brown, who finished with 9 points and 15 boards provided early energy with his running and rebounding. From there a balanced perimeter attack with Chazz Wattler leading the way with 21 points and CJ Davis and Marco Kozul adding 14 each helped Molloy move on to face New York # 2 seed Cardinal Hayes at 4:30 pm Sunday.

Stepinac 73 Holy Crpss 64 Thanks to a strong shooting start from sophomore guard Jermaine Bishop, Holy Cross trailed by just 3 at the intermission but the Crusaders' quick transition attack helped them pull away in the second half, Junior guard Nyam Thomas led the scoring with 21 points while Walter Kiing had 15 and 6 boards Josh James added 12 Stepinac will face New York top seed St. Ray's at ):00 pm

Thursday at Christ the King

Iona Prep 45 St. Francis Prep 36  The young Gaels are a team that plays exceptional team defense and they did a great job contesting shots and passes from the Terriers.  St. Francis played a box and 1 defense on Iona's talented 6'6" soph Matt Ryan and held him in check but the rest of their talented youngsters, junior Isaiah Ice, soph Tom Capuono and freshman Ty Jerome gave them just enough scoring for the win. They face B-Q #2 seed Loughlin at 2:45 pm.

St. Peter's 65 Xaverian 59  The Eagles' win is even more impressive than it seems on paper because they did it without senior guard Latrell Curtis who was out with an injuiry. Junior guard Glen Sanabria stepped up and played one of the best games we've seen from any guard tuis year, scoring both from deep and from middle distance and playing at a cmforta ble pace. The Eagles led by as many and 20 points before Joey Dello Russo helped lead a furious comback. They rallied to within 4 points before clutch baskets, including one from talented sophomore Reilly Walsh helped the Eagles secure the win.  They will meet B-Q top seed Christ the King in Sunday's finale at 6:15 pm.