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.
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