STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Return the flowers.
Throw away the eulogy.
Ignore the condolences.
St. Peter’s entered the 2025-26 campaign with a laundry list of question marks after graduating four starters and losing its best returning player to a prep school.
There was a common belief, at least early in the season, that the Eagles’ seven-year run as SIHSL Tournament champions would come to an end this season.
The defending champs, however, once again had other plans.
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SIHSL Tournament Championship: St. Peter’s vs. St. Joseph by-the-Sea
St. Peter’s set the tone early with as superb defensive effort and senior Nico Parlanti took home MVP honors as the Eagles took home their eighth consecutive tourney crown via a 48-37 victory over St. Joseph by-the-Sea Thursday at Petrides HS in Sunnyside.
The No. 2-seeded Eagles (12-11), who went above .500 for the first time since their Thanksgiving Eve victory over Curtis, won the tournament for the 16th time overall. In addition, it also notched its Staten Island-best 39th SIHSL title overall dating back to the 1948-49 season.
“It’s just as important as ever. We take it very seriously and it’s one of our main goals in the beginning of the year,’’ said an elated SP head coach Ryan Woods, who personally won the tourney crown for the fourth straight year. ”I’m so happy and so proud of the boys. The program is in a special place and I’m just so happy for the St. Peter’s Eagles.’’
“This means everything. Everybody is always talking, everybody is always hating and everybody is always doubting and we just prove year after year what we can do at St. Peter’s‚’’ said Parlanti, the Eagles’ lone senior who finished with a team-high 15 points, including several big threes and free throws down the stretch. ”It just feels great to be a part of (this championship) and part of the history of our program.’’
MORE TO COME