Local Stars Shine as Vermont Nearly Upsets Duke Before
losing 91-90 Had they completed what
was a brilliantly executed and selfless effort against the Blue Devils the
Catamounts would have been the first non-conference team since St.John's in
2000 to win a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium. People will remember the core of
that St. John's team consisted of local stars such as Anthony Glover (Rice HS)
Erick Barkley (Christ the King) and Reggie Jessie (Loughlin) along with Georgia
native and New York Panthers standout Lavar Postell. The 2013-14 Catamounts
feature a pair of local stars both well
prepared at Iona Prep by their outstanding coach Vic Quirolo. Forward Brian Voelkel and guard Sandro Carissimo each helped their
team skillfully move the ball and score against Duke's defense. Volekel scored
just six points but helped initiate offense with his familiar high post passing
game. Carissimo finished with 16 points while both players had 9 assists while
committing just one turnover between them.
The Catamounts will need to win the America East tournament for an NCAA
invite but if they get their they will be a scary team for a top seed to play
in the opening round of the NCAA.
St. John's Pulls Away From Longwood 65-47 St. John's
continued what has been a bad trend for them starting slowly before pulling
away. Longwood scored the game's first 7 points and trailed by just 27-23 at
halftime. St. John's rallied behind D'angelo Harrison's 18 points in a game
that coach Steve Lavin politely described as "disjointed" for both
offenses. Longwood got nice contributions from a pair of local stars as Lucas
Woodhouse (Harboorfields HS) who finished with 10 points and 3 assists. Jeylani
Dublin, a Brooklyn native who played at Millbrook (NY) Prep finished with a
team high 16 points. St. John's next plays Penn State on Friday at the Barclay
Center classic in Brooklyn as the step up in competition begins. St.John's has
tied its school record of 13 blocks in each of its last three games and they
will need that to translate against a better level of athlete and team they'll
see now and in conference play. I am one who thinks that the blocks are. to
some extent eye wash for bad defense and these next few games will tell us if
that's true.
Meanwhile in Riverdale... Two local teams with rosters full of local
players waged a great "Battle of
the Bronx" as Fordham won at Manhattan 79-75. The Rams' win was especially
impressive against the MAAC Conference favorite Jaspers because they did it
without junior Bryan Smith (Midwood HS) who sat out his second straight game
with an ankle injury. In Tom Pecora's 4-guard offense Smith had evolved into
the guy who hid many of the lineups warts with his ability to garner tough
rebounds and defend. While big men Ryan Rhoomes (Cardozo HS) and Trey Leonard
were stalwarts under the basket last night they will need Bryan's energy and
toughness to continue to make progress because he compliments the explosive
ability of basketball's answer to the Dallas Cowboys "triplets" of
Jon Severe, Brandon Fraser and Mandell Thomas. Freshman Severe (CTK) scored a
game high 30 points while Fraser
(Loughlin) added 21. For Manhattan senior George Beamon (Roslyn HS LI )
finished with 21 points and 11 boards.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone To all fellow
self-appointed basketball experts, gym rats an anyone who just loves New York
Hoops, Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Enjoy the food and the chance to visit with family both immediate and
extended. You will be hearing from me soon and till then please take care and
God Bless all of you.
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