STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— The first-round Borough President’s Cup matchup between Petrides and CSI/McCown on Friday night was effectively done and dusted in the third quarter with the Panthers up 25, but the Moore Catholic gym still erupted when Asha Bell drilled a three, a bucket that marked the 1,000th point of her career.
Bell finished with a game-high 22 points as Petrides cruised to a 50-21 victory to advance to the second round, capping a memorable night for the standout junior.
“It feels good. It was something new for me, because I went from being a help to the team to having to lead the team,” Bell said after the contest.
“It was hard stepping into that role, but I made it work and kept my team up at all times, and it felt good. As long as the team feels like family, I’m good.”
Bell’s milestone continues a rare tradition at Petrides. During Bell’s freshman year, former teammate Ysella Kosic ’25 became just the second 1,000-point scorer in program history, with both players coached by Jen Delahanty. The head coach said guiding the pair “has been a lot of fun.”
“We’ve never had two players on the same team score 1,000,” Delahanty said.
“Ysela and Asha have been with me since they were freshmen; Ysela showed the underclassmen what it takes to reach a milestone and was a great role model for Asha. This year, as a junior, Asha stepped into those shoes, took control, and really worked on her game, especially her jump shot. They were great teammates together.”
As for the game itself, the Panthers wasted little time asserting control, opening with a blistering 24-0 run that effectively decided the contest by the second quarter. Delahanty said the fast start reflected the team’s uptempo identity.
“We like to play at a fast tempo in our league because we have a bunch of players where basketball isn’t their first sport,” she said. “We like to get out and run when we can, get stops, and move from there, starting with defense that leads to offense,” she shared.
With the win, Petrides has set up a date with two-time defending champion St. Joseph by-the-Sea; the matchup presents a stiff challenge, and Delahanty emphasized the need for key adjustments.
“We definitely need to get better in transition,” she said.
“I know Sea likes to run; we also need to focus on rebounding and finding bodies. We just need to do that and execute our offensive, which includes not forcing the ball anywhere.”
The Panthers and Vikings will tip off Saturday at 5 p.m. at CYO MIV.
1/20
2026 Borough President’s Cup: SIA vs. New Dorp & Petrides vs. CSIM
Staten Island Academy 70, New Dorp 26
Much like Bell reaching a milestone in a lopsided game, first-year coach Sandy Litkenhaus achieved a milestone of her own in Staten Island Academy’s big victory over New Dorp, as the former Jaques Award winner earned her first win against a borough opponent as head coach of the Tigers.
“It was a great win. The team played together and did the things we’ve been practicing, which was nice to see. They played hard, didn’t back down, and didn’t let up the whole game. That’s all I could ask. Last year, they lost in the first round, so this was important for all of us to win,” she said after the matchup.
The Tigers were led by a balanced offensive attack, with Alyssa Lopez (13 points), Adrianna Savary (12), and Chloe Factor (11) all in double-digit scoring figures, allowing all of Litkenhaus’ players to get some shine.
“Everybody can score, and when they move the ball and get the person in the open position, it makes it easy to put the ball in the basket. We have a lot of players who can all score, and they all have inside-outside games,” the head coach explained.
The team’s offense was also defined by free-flowing ball movement and precise passing, which Litkenhaus said “takes a lot of practice every single day.”
“We’re working on reversing the ball, being in the right spot, and knowing where your teammate will be so you can pass quickly. That’s the kind of stuff we practice every day. Sometimes the game gets a little out of control, and I have to remind them how to play. When they listen, it usually turns out pretty good for us,” she shared.
Lastly, Litkenhaus credited several New Dorp players she had coached in travel ball and CYO for their performances, half-joking that “it was hard to fight the urge to want to coach them tonight.”
“I coached the three Ferrante sisters, and they’ve always been strong outside shooters. Alessia is a good ball handler and handled the pressure from our defense very well. I also coached Olivia [Andruszkow] in travel; she’s gotten stronger, developed her outside shot, and looks for the open person. Jonai [Prince], whom I coached at St. Christopher’s, is also a strong forward and rebounder. I had coached these five since second grade, so it was great to see them all play well,” she concluded.
With the win, the Tigers will meet Notre Dame Academy on Saturday at CYO MIV, tipping off at 3:30 p.m.