Georgetown Deals Johnnies' Tourney Hopes a Big Blow 89-78

        St. John’s NCAA tournament hopes received another crippling blow yesterday at the hands of both a familiar nemesis and a new one.  The familiar nemesis was the Georgetown Hoyas, now coached by the archest of arch-enemies to St. John’s fans Patrick Ewing. No doubt many in the crowd of 17,000+ who came to MSG remembered the best days for the Big East and the two programs, heard the buzz generated by St. John’s now distant 12-0 start and were both hopeful and curious. What they got was a disappointing 89-78 loss to their old rivals, Georgetown and Ewing, and found out that the Hoyas had a new thorn in St. John’s side, freshman point guard Matt McClung.

     To their credit, Georgetown got out of the gate quickly with the combination of McClung and former Wings Academy center Jesse Govan. They helped the Hoyas maintain the lead for all but very brief portions of each half and the crowd which was mostly a St. John’s crowd stayed quiet. What McClung and Govan did to great efficacy from start to finish was exploit mismatches created by St. John’s switching against either Govan’s size or McClung’s quick driving ability. McClung, who was injured for his team’s 97-94 loss to St. John’s on January 5^th had a game high 25 points for the Hoyas while Govan added 20. As a team the Hoyas shot 13-27 from three-point land in large part because the good work done by their center/guard combination put St. John’s defense in constant help and scramble mode and players such as freshman Josh LeBlanc (15 Points) and sophomore Jamorko Pickett (9 points) made key plays with the help of good ball movement or by attacking the glass.

  Georgetown took a 41-37 advantage into the intermission. And while the Hoyas played well in garnering that edge, St. John’s wing Mustapha Heron suggested that his team may have been “going through the motions” in the first 20 minutes. It’s fair to say that St. John’s lethargy extended into the second half as well since Georgetown was able to extend that halftime margin. And that lead to a series of coaching decisions that likely cost St. John’s dearly as they tried to make a final push.

    The series of coaching decisions came in the form of 3 St. John’s time outs. The first came as Georgetown pushed their margin to 55-50 with just over 15 minutes left. The second and third came after the Hoyas had extended their margin to 10 points and the last came with 8:49 seconds still to be played and left the Johnnies with no time outs for the balance of the game.

   It’s very likely that at the moment each of those last time outs were, they stopped the proverbial bleeding. But the early use of those time outs meant the Johnnies didn’t have them for the final possessions when they were sorely needed.

                Beginning with 1:49 left in the game, two free throws and a layup by Shamorie Ponds brought St. John’s to within 79-77. A flurry of defensive pressure and turnovers, and one replay reversal that gave St. John’s the ball with chances to tie the game. But on one possession Ponds’ without a time out through the ball away. The second, that came off a deflection and steal by LJ Figueroa resulted in a heartbreaking sequence for St. John’s that came about again in part because they had no time outs left. Figueroa began it with a long and quick three-pointer that he took without setting his feet, once again with no time outs left to set up a play for a good shot. A flurry of tip tries followed, all missed and, perhaps fittingly, it was left Mac McClung to get the rebound and take the last breath of air from a St. John’s comeback try with a drive and dunk.

   The loss was St. John’s 5^th in 8 Big East games and their 3^rd in 4 tries. After a three-game road trip that begins Tuesday at Creighton and includes visits to Duke and Marquette, the Johnnies may now simply not have enough chances to play themselves back into the NCAA tournament field. A season that began with such bright promise has seen that promise fade quickly. And with this loss, they may have seen the tournament bid St. John’s fans want so badly for their team and their coach, slip from their team’s grasp.

   

Clippers Start Big Week with Tough Win Vs. Terrieres

     As yesterday’s game between St. Francis Prep and Xaverian came down to the final moments, an otherwise stellar defensive sequence for the Clippers was marred by a foul that came on a deflected inbounds pass. With Xaverian leading by what would be the final margin, 60-58, St. Francis missed the first of two attempts. On the second try they were called for a lane violation and with .4 seconds left the Clippers successfully inbounded the ball and the clock expired.  As they have for much of this season, the Clippers found a way to win a close game; this one over an improving Prep squad that may prove to be a tough out in the playoffs.

     The two teams played within a tight margin from start to finish, with neither team able to build a lead of more than 5 points. And while each team had several players make key contributions, a pair of young players lead the way for their teams. Sophomore guard Nick Folk of Xaverian and junior guard Anthony Lopez Jr. tied for game high scoring honors with 16 points. Of greater significance for both their teams and their individual development is that they each showed the ability to do more than just score the ball. For St. Francis Lopez, who established his reputation as a scorer last season as a varsity sophomore, essentially played point guard for this season’s terriers, and with very few exceptions made good decisions about when to call his own number and when to get his teammates involved. Seniors Justin Hendrick, Daniel Campbell and Aramis Santiago along with sophomore lefty Todd Rochelle each contributed key baskets and made defensive plays throughout the game and gave the terriers a 1-point lead at the intermission.

                For Xaverian the most impressive thing about Folk’s game was how complete it was. Like Lopez last season, he has established his reputation as a shooter in this his first varsity season. Yesterday his playmaking and defense were also key in helping the Clippers stay close after a slow-shooting start, and he helped them take a third quarter lead with two terrific passing plays, one where he hit senior guard Isaiah Amazan with a pass that led to free throws, and another where he dropped a perfect dime to senior center Michael Graham for a slam dunk.  Amazan and Graham have been steady senior leaders who have brought energy and toughness to Xaverian’s defense all season long and in this game Graham’s ability to protect the rim and Amazan’s terrific defense on both Lopez and Hendricks at key points in the game was vital to what would ultimately be a winning effort.

    For Xaverian, the win yesterday comes at the beginning of a key stretch of the season as they will play home games against Brooklyn-Queens leader Bishop Loughlin on Friday, and Christ the King on Sunday. So far this season, Xaverian has faced every challenger with poise, toughness and trust in each other. Those elements will be vital as they go through this week’s gauntlet of games and come down the stretch of the season.

Storm Starts Slowly in Ponds' Return but Ends 2-Game Losing Streak.

                In a game marked by scoring runs in favor of both sides, the most important one for St. John’s in their 86-61 win over Creighton yesterday may have come in the first half. Despite Shamorie Ponds’ return to the lineup, the Red Storm appeared to be on their heels.  A 15-6 run that stretched across the middle of the first half had lifted the visitors from Nebraska from a 13-13 tie to a 28-19 advantage when freshman guard Marcus Zegarowski connected on a three-pointer with 6:17 to go in the opening half. From there it was up to Ponds, who appeared to be moving well even as St. John’s offense sputtered to that point. Ponds then connected on a three-point shot and a two-point jumper which began a stretch where the Johnnies connected on eight straight field goal tries. They closed the half on a 20-6 run and had a 39-34

                After the strong close to the first half there still proved work to be done as Creighton opened the half on 7-3 run to close the gap to 42-41. Coach Chris Mullin called timeout just prior to what would have been the first (under 16) media timeout and the move paid off as his team responded with another strong run, scoring 10 of the game’s next 12 points. That rally saw continued fine play from Ponds as well as the start of a strong second half from Mustapha Heron, who was scoreless in the first half thanks in large part to a pair of early fouls.  His second half would go much better as St. John’s worked diligently to get him touches on the low block. He scored all of his 18 points in the second 20 minutes connecting on 7 of 8 shots.

   Creighton’s strong young perimeter kept them within striking distance for much of the game. Zegarowski led a quartet of Blue Jay double figure scorers with 17 points while center Martin Krampelj added 14 but St. John’s was continually able to create quickness mismatches, often with him involved guarding Heron, LJ Figueroa, who finished with 16 points and 13 boards, or Justin Simon, who also had 16 points. Ponds would finish with a game high 22 points and 5 assists, helping with his playmaking to facilitate St. John’s ability to find and take advantage of mismatches. The win broke a two-game in-season losing streak for St. John’s as well as a six-game losing streak against Creighton.

   The win moved the Johnnies overall record to 15-3 while pulling them even in Big East play at 3-3. Up next is another crucial game at Butler on Saturday beginning at 4:30 pm.

DePaul Hands St. John's A Damaging Loss 79-71

   Part of the 2018-19 pre-season narrative for St. John’s went something like this, “St. John’s is better but the league is also a little down and St. John’s will have a chance to make some noise…” With last night’s 79-71 loss at Carnesecca Arena to DePaul, the script of a strong early season followed by struggles in league play is more reminiscent of last season than many would like.

      Yes, Shamorie Ponds, the Big East’s third leading scorer and leading assist man, was absent, and yes DePaul is clearly better than a year ago. Even with those too important caveats in mind this is still a bad loss, especially for a team that needs success in the Big East schedule to offset a weak non-conference slate of games.

   DePaul led by just 31-30 as the second half began and briefly surrendered that lead when Mustapha Heron connected on a jumper to open the proceedings. From there DePaul attacked and owned the area around the rim. And for a guy like yours truly who follows local basketball it was especially disheartening that the guy who did the most damage was Femi Olujobi, whose basketball journey began at Brentwood High on Long Island and who arrived at DePaul as a graduate transfer this past summer.  He bruised and battered the smaller Johnnies for 27 points and 11 rebounds. His partner in the paint Paul Rand, who brings less girth but more length to the table and the motor to keep from being boxed out had a double double of his own with 18 points and 11 boards. The Blue Demons’ success getting the ball inside, and the disparity it created at the free throw line 28-6 in favor caused coach Chris Mullin to draw a technical foul. With his team trailing 62-56 when the tech stopped the action, the visitors responded with an 8-2 run that was capped by a Max Strus three-pointer with 3:30 left in the game.  It was the only trifecta DePaul made in the second half (in just 5 tries) and, oh by the way Strus had a double double too with 16 points and 12 boards.

        Mullin placed blame for the loss, St. John’s 3^rd in 5 conference games squarely on himself saying “…. I’ll be back tomorrow going for the jugular”.  With or without Ponds they will have to bring a more sustained level of intensity against Creighton. While the Jays do not have the same physicality inside as the Demons, they remain a tough and smart team that gives themselves a chance to win every time they compete. It’s early in the Big East schedule but the Johnnies need to gain some traction quickly before a possible NCAA tourney bid slips from their grasp.

Player Evals From Sunday's Apparel Challenge (Part Two)

Here is part two of my player evaluations from Sunday’s Apparel Challenge. Thanks again to everyone at Christ the King for their help and to everyone, especially former CK guard Japhet McNeil, who stopped by my parking space to visit. There’s nothing better than to see players I knew as kids come back grown up with children of their own.  On that note and without further ado allow me to get started.

Jalen Celestine ‘20 6’6” SG Long Island Lutheran: The native of Ajax Ontario who is in his first year with the Crusaders and he’s a lefty who brings many good things to the table. Perhaps the best of those things is that at his size he’s a bit more than an “attack the basket wing” even though driving to the basket wing. He’s a willing passer who will throw the ball ahead when that’s the play to make. He’s a very good rebounder and terrific defender with quick hands, quick feet and good anticipation and length. On Sunday he connected on a pair of three-point shots and while he has a nice release and follow through there’s a bit of a hitch there that makes his shot inconsistent. If he can smooth that out it could provide a needed finishing touch for a talented player whose all-around game is already very good.

Zed Key ’20 6’8” PF/C Long Island Lutheran: The Brentwood High transfer is perhaps the most talented of LuHi’s “bigs”. He ran the floor really well and demonstrated exceptional quickness off the floor on his way to an 18-point outing and a strong effort on the boards against Boys & Girls. The feeling here is that he projects as a high major prospect who can play as either a traditional power forward or a “small ball 5 man” (center). His recruiting next summer should include many suitors.

Tyler Stephenson-Moore ’19 6’3” SG Long Island Lutheran: Tyler was vital to the Crusaders’ effort because his hot start from beyond the arc (14 of his 17 points) helped kick start an offense that was stagnant in the early going. He’s a senior but he’s also a prospect that coaches and fans are just beginning to learn about because he lost last year to injury after transferring from Port Jefferson. His outside shooting is the best part of his game and he shows terrific athleticism and length defensively.  His game driving to the basket is still a work in progress but getting that part better may simply be a matter of playing more. He’s a D-1 prospect right now but may draw more interest as more coaches get a chance to see him.

Ryan Myers ’20 6’2” PG Christ the King: The junior lefty found his scoring touch early from beyond the arc and late with clutch free throws to help CK secure the win against Jefferson.  In between he showed that he’s getting stronger with the ball and gradually assuming more of a point guard’s role. He played well but the feeling here is that there’s another level that he can get to as he gets stronger

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Nate Curry ’19 6’5” F Christ the King: I can say about Curry, who’s a forward, the same thing I said about Brooklyn Law & Tech’s Davonta Cook who’s a guard. Nate may give a way a little size (at 6’5”) for his position (power forward) but he plays with a good motor and a high skill level especially from the elbow to the baseline. He scored 9 of his 14 points in a critical 3^rd quarter stretch that helped CK regain the lead from a stubborn Jefferson team. At 220 lbs. he provides a strong physical presence on the boards as well. Like Cook he’s a player low majors should target because he’s exactly the kind of player teams at that level win with.

Ramsey Saleh ’21 5’9” G Thomas Jefferson: Against a Christ the King defense concentrating on keeping Jefferson out of the lane, Saleh provided the outside shooting touch they needed and helped them forge a lead for much of the game. Like fellow sophomore Jahi Mukoro of Boys & Girls, he’s a kid who shows shot making ability and poise at an early age and that makes him a prospect who should be followed closely.

Isaiah Richards ’19 6’9” C South Shore: Isaiah made an early commitment to Florida International this fall and it’s likely that FIU will get a player who’s better than the one they thought they were signing at the time. That’s because, like many big kids, his coordination and balance are beginning to catch up to his early size and he’s running and rebounding better and becoming more of a presence at the rim. The individual numbers are modest but that’s because the defending PSAL champs are deep with lots of talent and many potential scoring options.

Kadary Richmond ’19 6’5” G South Shore: Kadary scored a game-high 14-points in a convincing win over Chaminade but that really doesn’t tell the story of how well he played. His decision making (7 assists) and his impact on the game defensively were both excellent. He’s really the perfect guard for the defending PSAL champs because on a team that’s deep and well balanced he’s the guy that makes sure everyone gets involved. People who follow local basketball closely may remember a player named Shane Southwell who played at Rice and then at Kansas State. Kadary’s length and vision make him comparable to Shane and should serve him well at the next level.

Phillipps Joseph ’19 6’6” F South Shore: Joseph got his team started on the path to that easy win by providing scoring punch both from beyond the arc and around the basket. He finished with 13 points and showed why he’s an almost certain D-1 prospect who right now is an undersized power forward but could move to the wing position as he matures physically in a college weight room.

Anthony Latty ’19 6’7” PF South Shore: Anthony’s presence on the Vikings’ roster is perhaps the best example of just how deep they are. He’s a senior who comes off the bench and brings lots of energy and athleticism. He’s active an active and tough forward who finishes at the rim. The Vikings don’t run anything for him because they have more established options but in limited minutes, he finds a way to help his team. At 6’7” with great athleticism, D-1 programs should take a good look.

Player Evals From Apparel Challenge (Part One)

     Sunday’s Apparel Challenge at Christ the King provided a great start to the 2019 portion of this basketball season. It provided an opportunity for scouts and fans to see many of the area’s best players, and in turn gives the young players a chance to show scouts and coaches how they might be able to help teams at the next level. Cardinal Hayes, Long Island Lutheran, South Shore and Christ the King all earned impressive wins with the home standing Royals earning a come-from-behind win over PSAL rival Thomas Jefferson. Here, and in my next post, are some notes and observations on individual players with team notes contained within.

Andre Curbelo’20 6’ PG Long Island Lutheran: Don’t be fooled by the modest numbers (10 points 7 assists) in his team’s 69-43 win over Boys & Girls because his focus in this game was right where it should be, on leadership, defense and getting others involved. After a strong first quarter that gave the Kangaroos a brief lead, he and senior big man set the tone defensively and in transition as the Crusaders gained some traction and eventually pulled away. Curbelo continues to show good defense and shot making ability finishing around the rim. Given his experience here with LuHi and in international hoops he may be as talented and well prepared a point guard prospect as there is in the country.

Essam Moustafa ’19 6’9”C Long Island Lutheran: He’s the center for the Crusaders while Curbelo plays point guard but the common trait they share is that both of their games are full of intangibles. He pursues every rebound and loose ball with great hustle and LuHi’s other “bigs”, Zed Key and Drissa Traore follow his lead. It’s easy to see his limitations, lack of explosion that keeps him from finishing every play around the rim, but he’s a passer, a guy who catches nearly everything the guards throw to him and a leader who will help whatever team lands him be a winner.

Jahi Mukoro ’21 5’10” G Boys & Girls: Playing against LuHI, a team loaded with D-1 prospects he displayed shot making ability and poise as a young player.  He tied for team high scoring honors with senior teammate Dorian Haynes (12 points) His frame is slight for the moment but he’s just a sophomore and will need time to grow and mature physically. He’s very early in the process but certainly has the look of a prospect and should be followed closely.

Jaylen Murray ’20 5’11” G Cardinal Hayes: Murray has long ago established himself as one of the top shooters in our region and that was on full display Sunday as he scored a team high 21 points as Hayes pulled away late from Brooklyn Law & Tech. In this game he showed he’s made some good strides as a playmaker and transition passer as he shares those duties with Iowa commit Joe Toussaint. His summer and senior year will be interesting to watch once Toussaint moves on and he assumes a leading role. The feeling here is that he’s well on his way to becoming a complete point guard.

Davonta Cook ’19 6’ G Brooklyn Law & Tech: Cardinal Hayes could never completely shake coach Kenny Pretlow’s squad and Cook, who finished with a game high 25 points, was the chief reason why.  He scored effectively at all 3 levels and did a terrific job getting in the lane and making strong and aggressive plays in traffic. The feeling here is that he’s a guy low majors should eye because he’s the kind of player coaches win with in those leagues; maybe not quite the right size for his position (scoring guard) but a kid who plays with both a great motor and a high skill level.

Jaquan Carlos ’21 5'11" PG Thomas Jefferson: Jefferson played in a highly competitive game against Christ the King and held the lead for much of it until the Royals’ balanced lineup and clutch play helped them close out a win late. Carlos, the highly touted sophomore tied for team high scoring honors with 15 points as he faced a tight matchup zone for much of the day. Right now, his middle- distance game is the strongest part of his scoring repertoire as he can stop, change directions and knock down those shots against long defenders. Other parts of his offense, especially 3-point shooting and passing are a little less consistent. Perhaps because of the early rave reviews fans are forgetting he’s just a sophomore because there has been some unfortunate negative web chatter about him. My advice to all the naysayers is watch the game, he’s poised confident and a very good teammate and all of that makes him a terrific prospect.

Quaran McPherson ‘20 6'3" SG Christ the King: Quaran capped a terrific 27-point performance with a clutch three-pointer with a little more than a minute remaining that finally gave the Royals some distance from a scrappy Jefferson squad in a game that the Royals would go on to win 71-64. The three-point shot is an improving part of McPherson’s game but he demonstrated in this game and has demonstrated throughout his junior season is that he is perhaps our region’s most versatile scorer. With the Royals short-handed through much of the early season coach Joe Arbitello has moved Q all over the court and he has shown both scoring and playmaking ability from the mid and high post, the short corner and, as his clutch shot indicated, from beyond the arc. Thanks to good length and vision he has also been a consistent force on the defensive end. With continued success this season he should draw high major interest this summer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Clippers Get Back to League Play With OT Win Vs. Mount

     Following a Christmas week that saw them earn three impressive victories in route to a Msgr. King Tournament title, Xaverian got back into league play with a 66-65 overtime win against Mount St. Michael’s. While the margin of victory may have been much smaller than any of their King Tourney wins, this victory was likely as impressive as any they’d had so far this season.

     That’s because the Clippers had some adversity to deal with. Shawn Fulcher, fresh of his tournament MVP performance at St. Thomas Aquinas, struggled a bit for the first time this year with foul trouble, picking up three early in the first half.  The visitors from the Bronx went right at them with scoring punch not so much from their stars, senior Mike Green and junior Ibraham Wattara, but from players like junior Malik Pringle and freshman Noah Best, who may be less heralded at the moment but are clearly fine players in their own right.

    The razor thin margin between the two teams was reflected in the scoreboard from start to finish. Xaverian lead 17-15 at the end of the 1^st period. But saw Mount rally as Green found his shooting legs and helped the Mounties take a 26-24 halftime advantage.

   In the third period Wattara became a factor with his ability to drive from the elbow and the key. He attacked the basket very effectively using both a pull up jumper and a drive to the rim to finish plays. He helped give the Mount a brief advantage but the Clippers fought to a tie thanks to some clutch shooting by reserve Billy Reyes, who finished with 13 points, and continued fine play from Michael Graham who not only scored a game high 22 points for the Clippers but ended that third period with a tough rebound and outlet pass to Isaiah Amazan which resulted in a game tying layup.

     The fourth quarter became a mirror image of the third as it was Mount’s turn to battle back after Xaverian took a small early advantage. Wattara and Green sparked a late rally that saw Mount tie the game at 58 when Green connected on two free throws. Xaverian’s defense was just a split-second late rotating on a baseline out of bounds play and with 2.8 seconds left Green calmly drained both free throws.

    In the overtime period after Graham opened the scoring for the Clippers with an offensive rebound and basket, it was up to Fulcher to close things out for the Clippers with 6 of his 10 points. Mount clawed back to within a point but Green’s jumper was well defended and the Clippers were able to hold serve at home against a Mount team that is well-balanced, physical and confident. In a losing effort they got 20 points from Green and 17 apiece from Wattara and Pringle. Even though they suffered a tough road loss yesterday they demonstrated they will be a tough out the rest of the regular season and in the playoffs in March.

St. John's (Almost) Perfect Response Moves Them Past Marquette 89-69

                The sellout crowd at Carnesecca Arena, which was hoping for a great response following St. John’s controversial loss to Seton Hall on Saturday could not have asked for anything more. In fact, save for one late turnover that occurred when Shamorie Ponds stepped on the sideline with the help of some bumping by a Marquette trap, their second half was almost perfect.

     The first half of what would be a convincing 89-69 win for the Johnnies over the Golden Eagles wasn’t too bad either. And Shamorie Ponds, like his team roared back from Saturday’s loss in front of a home crowd that not only sold out the gym, but one that was easily the most engaged of the season. Ponds got St. John’s started early when he sandwiched a three-pointer around two driving baskets that resulted in two “hoop & harm” three-point plays. After the Red Storm took an early 19-14 lead the visitors responded with a 7-0 run and took a 21-19 advantage. The two teams traded baskets for a time after that and St. John’s effort, though strong in those moments was sabotaged, by 9 turnovers. Despite those early miscues St. John’s took a 39-31 lead into the locker room at half time as Marvin Clark, who had 22 points for the game including 4 triples, and Ponds led the way on a 14-6 half closing run.

    Two Mustapha Heron free throws to open the second half gave St. John’s a 10-point lead. After the Johnnies traded baskets with Marquette to maintain that margin, they used a 12-4 spurt to push the lead to 18 that concluded with a corner triple from Heron off a great inside out pass from Clark.

     The nearly total absence of turnovers may have been the key factor in helping St. John’s salt away a big win but it was one of several things that they did well and that stood in direct contrast to the loss on Saturday. They fought the Eagles to a 35-35 standoff on the boards after they were out-rebounded by 15 on Saturday and, perhaps most important, they continued to score against Marquette after failing to register a field goal in the game’s last 5-plus minutes on Saturday. Add in five double figure scorers, including Heron scoring all of his 16 in the second half, holding Marquette to 29% from beyond the arc and the Big East’s leading scorer Markus Howard to a 2-15 shooting night and St. John’s had the formula exactly the kind of win they needed following a game where they did not play well but put themselves in position to win but did not play well on Saturday were it not for what the officials errors. In response to a question about Ponds’ 26-point bounce back performance coach Chris Mullin began by saying simply “

“I’m just glad he played well, I know he didn’t feel good about the game (Saturday).”  could have been speaking about the entire team which now must take the positive of a big win on the road for a two- game swing that begins at Georgetown on Saturday. The road trip will be another test and, hopefully for St. John’s another step in the right direction.

  

Clippers Take King Tournament Title, And Other Notes from the Tournament

       I’d like to begin this recap by saying thank you to athletic director Guy DeFonzo and his staff at St. Thomas who put together a great tournament and went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure I was well positioned and situated.  I’m sure at least some of my readers may recall in conversation that the Msgr. King Tournament was an important part of Christmas Time growing up for me.  My dad would take me to those games and the time we spent watching games there and talking hoops created some of the happiest memories I had with him.  Thank you to Mr. DeFonzo and his staff also for allowing me to look back briefly on those happy days.

    This year’s Msgr. King Tournament was the 50^th held and the 5^th since it was re-established in 2014.  It saw Xaverian High School post 3 convincing wins including an 83-63 win over McKee Staten Island Tech in the championship game. Sophomore guard Shawn Fulcher took home his second in season tournament MVP honors, making an impact on all areas of the game. On offense he helped push the pace created opportunities for his teammates with great passing and took what the defense gave him by scoring from middle distance.  His shooting and shot selection must continue to get better if the Clippers are to capitalize on their strong start as league play continues in 2019. In addition to Fulcher’s strong play and leadership, other Clippers showed why they could be a force to be reckoned with this season. Fulcher’s backcourt partner and fellow sophomore Nick Folk continued to establish himself as one of New York’s best young shooters. His tournament resume included a 21-point performance in the semi-final vs. local rival St. Edmund’s and a well-earned spot on the all-tournament team. Senior big man Michael Graham continued his strong start to the season by providing a long active finishing presence under the basket. Perhaps the key element to the Clippers’ tournament win and their strong start might be the bench, where a quartet of reserves all made essential contributions to what would ultimately be a winning effort.  Billy Reyes, a 6’3” junior guard made clutch shots and got key rebounds throughout the tournament and his work in the third quarter of the final game was key in helping the Clippers put some distance between themselves and a tough McKee squad. And it helped him earn the tournament’s coaches award named in honor of the late Pudgie Walsh, who built and coached the Brooklyn Mariners semi-pro football team.

  A pair of junior guards, Noah Salcedo and Ian Byrne provided energy and toughness off the bench that complimented the two starting guards. Byrne in particular was a spark defensively, giving up size to the tournament’s leading scorer, MSIT’s Kalique Mitchell, but making him earn every inch of real estate as he drove to the basket. Finally, junior forward Elijah Hardison provided important minutes in relief of Graham and allowed the Clippers to have a forceful presence under the basket from start to finish. He’s a young player who, like several of the Clippers’ underclassmen appears to be improving with each game.

   While Xaverian’s guard duo, balance and depth earned them a great win several other players did terrific work throughout the tournament. Runner up McKee featured the tournament’s leading scorer Kalique Mitchell, a 6’4” senior who was a fearless driver with terrific length. Sophomore guard Jahbrey McFarlane also showed out for McKee with his terrific outside touch. Other all tournament selections included 6’ junior guard St. Edmund Prep, senior guard Jaylen Womack of Notre Dame (Utica) and 6’3 junior Sal Saputo of St. Mary’s (LI) Congratulations to the winners and again to those at St. Thomas who have brought the tournament back for local fans of all ages to enjoy.