STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Welcome to the club, Charlie Donohue.
McKee/Staten Island Tech’s boys’ varsity basketball mentor became only the fifth coach from the Island to eclipse the 300-win mark after his Seagulls recorded a 78-38 PSAL 3A division victory over visiting Eagle Academy Staten Island on Thursday in New Dorp.
Donohue, who’s in his 19th varsity season at MSIT (21st overall), joins an impressive list of Island coaches that surpassed 300 wins, including Tony Rafaniello (511; Monsignor Farrell, New Dorp, Moore Catholic), Joe Coscia (445; Susan Wagner), Charlie Driscoll (344; St. Peter’s) and Jack McGinley (337; St. Peter’s, St. Joseph by-the-Sea).
“It’s just amazing to know I’m in the conversation with those four coaches,’’ said Donohue. ”I played for and coached against Charlie (Driscoll); I coached against both Raf and Coscia and, of course, you’ve heard Jack McGinley’s name forever and I’m very proud to even be mentioned with those guys.’’
Donohue appreciates all the players who took this rare journey with him.
“It took a lot of years to get to this point and I owe it to the kids who bought in. They’re the ones who deserve the credit — not the coach,’’ said a humbled Donohue, who was joined by several former players Thursday, including Atigi Moore, who played on his first team. “Some of those former players have become my best friends.
“(MSIT basketball) is a special family to me‚’’ he added. ”I’m so proud to be a part of it.’’
Donohue admitted he never thought he’d be in this position when he took over the Seagulls’ program prior to the 2007-08 season.
“I think back to my first day (as varsity coach) and I remember thinking that I wanted to bring a struggling program back to the success it had once experienced,’’ said Donohue. ”You think back to those teams that Mickey Burns coached — I wanted to experience the same success as those teams.
“I didn’t think I’d be here,’’ he added, referring to notching 300 wins. ”I am definitely blessed.’’
McKee/Staten Island Tech boys’ varsity head coach Charlie Donohue, standing center, is joined by former player Atigi Moore and their children following the Seagulls’ PSAL 3A victory over Eagle Academy Staten Island. Donohue was presented with a cake after becoming on the fifth Island coach to notch 300 career wins.(Courtesy of Jahbrey McFarlane)
The Seagulls, led by Terence Legrand’s game-high 14 points (four three-pointers), jumped to a double-digit lead early and cruised to the victory to improve to 2-3 overall (2-1 PSAL). Nizayah Jordan, Dalton Cherubin and Javen Marque added nine points apiece for MSIT.
Armani Perez and Juneek Daniels scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, for Eagle (2-3, 1-1).
Jordan scored eight points, Cherubin added six and both Jayden Lin and Legrand hit threes as MSIT raced to a 24-7 lead after one period and never looked back.
Susan Wagner 61, Abraham Lincoln 48
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Senior guard Chris Albano scored a team-high 18 points and the Falcons tightened the clamps defensively in the fourth quarter to register the PSAL 4A Brooklyn-Staten Island II division victory over the visiting Railsplitters in Sea View.
In addition to Albano, the undefeated Falcons (5-0) received another double-double from senior Charles Gambino (12 points, 14 rebounds) while Adem Djonbalic (two treys) and Darin Humes-James added 13 and eight points, respectively.
Jace Parris tallied a game-high 20 points and Dean Diaz added 10 for Lincoln.
“A solid win when we didn’t have our best night,’’ said SW head coach Danny Lanigan. ”We battled through some poor shooting for us and hot shooting early (from Lincoln).’’
Lanigan said that in addition to Gambino’s 14 caroms, he also kept another 12 rebounds up for grabs for teammates.
“He was once again an animal on the boards,’’ praised the coach of his 6-foot-2 forward.
With a 16-14 lead after one period, the Falcons got a bit of separation at the half thanks in part to Albano (five points), freshman Brayden Louisson (four points) and Djonbalic (three free throws).
Wagner maintained its six-point advantage (46-40) heading into the final period when it held the Railsplitters to just eight points.
Albano scored five more points, Gambino added four and the Falcons drained 5 of 6 free-throw attempts (Albano 3 for 4) to pull away.
“(Albano) battled through an off night and stayed the course,’’ Lanigan said. ”(Djonbalic) found his stroke, which was very helpful, and Clevi Hoxha turned in another all-around floor performance despite a shooting slump.’’
SW was 14 for 18 from the charity stripe overall thanks, in part, to a 7-for-7 performance from Djonbalic.
CSIM 42, Petrides 31
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Xavier Farley nearly posted a triple-double and the Dragons got a boost from a big third quarter as they registered the PSAL 3A victory over the host Panthers in Sunnyside.
Farley finished tied for the team lead in points with Patrick Tucker (10) and also added 12 rebounds and eight blocks for 3-2 CSIM (2-1 PSAL). Stanley Kushnir and Daniel Zajonc teamed for another 15 points while Danny O’Connor dished out five assists.
Aiden Gonzalez had a game-high 11 points and Jaiden Brown tallied eight for the Panthers (0-3).
“A great defensive effort tonight,’’ praised CSIM head coach Danny Lee, whose team held the hosts to six fourth-quarter points.
Farley and Kushnir teamed for nine first-half points to help give the Dragons an 18-15 lead at intermission.
Tucker scored six and CSIM connected on 8 of 13 freebies in the third (Zajonc 4 for 4) as the visitors carried a 35-25 advantage into the final eight minutes and never looked back.
Junior varsity
Tottenville 65, New Dorp 55
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Blair Tadros paced a balanced attack with 19 points and the Pirates raced to a double-digit halftime lead before cruising to the PSAL 1A division victory over the host Centrals.
In addition to Tadros (5 of 7 from the free-throw line), Lucas Souleidis (15 points, four treys), Gaser Youssef (13 points) and Adam Musleh (12 points, three treys) also contributed offensively for Tottenville.
Mohammed Mustafa finished with 17 points while Jayden Crawford and Adem Pocesta tallied 11 apiece for the Centrals.
The Pirates held a 16-8 lead after one period when they exploded for 27 second-quarter points. Souleidis buried three three-pointers, Musleh added eight (two treys) and Tadros chipped in with six as the visitors built a 43-16 advantage.
Petrides 56, CSIM 24
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Deen Wyne scored 15 points as the Panthers registered the PSAL 1A victory over the visiting Dragons in Sunnyside.
Hamza Abuzahrieh added 10 and Jeremiah Johnson and Evan Duran tallied seven points apiece for Petrides.
Saad Butt led CSIM with nine points, including a pair of three-point plays.
Deen’s 12 first-half points, including two of his three treys, helped Petrides build a 39-12 lead at intermission.