STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Monsignor Farrell had seen the movie before.
Close game. Fourth quarter. Crunch time.
Except this time, the Lions were hellbent on changing the ending. Junior Michael Abreu, as it turned out, was more than happy to take the lead role.
The two-year varsity player scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in a variety of ways during the final eight minutes as Farrell hung on for a 52-47 CHSAA Staten Island victory over host St. Peter’s Friday in New Brighton.
The Lions, who received strong games from Matt Scalisi (11 points, solid floor game), JJ Yates (11 points) and Jack Gomez, earned their first win in five tries this season (1-1 CHSAASI). But, perhaps most importantly, Farrell gave first-year head coach Danny Fisher his first win in front of an SRO crowd.
Monsignor Farrell head coach Danny Fisher, center, back turned, gets a hug from assistant coach Devin Dunn and the rest of the Lions’ bench after earning his first varsity victory after defeating St. Peter’s, 52-47, on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)
“When I came into the locker room, the kids were excited for themselves and they said, ‘coach, congratulations on your first win’,’’ said Fisher, a long-time fixture in Farrell’s program who took over for Mike Dunn this season. ”I said, ‘no. It’s our first win.’ Because that’s what we’re about — the team.
“To win, at St. Peter’s, it’s special because of who they are and their tradition. (SP head coach Ryan) Woods is phenomenal. “Being coach Dunn’s assistant and freshman coach for 10 years and coaching against (former St. Peter’s freshman coach) Denis Driscoll all those years and against (former SP varsity coach Charlie Driscoll) — they always made us better. And I think they’d say the same thing about us.
“I wish it wasn’t this late,’’ he said with a laugh, ”but I’m proud of our guys.’’
Truth is, although the Lions entered Friday’s game without a win, they very well could have won each of their first four contests, but lost them during nip-and-tuck fourth quarters.
Abreu, who saw a significant amount of time a sophomore a year ago, believes playing in competitive games made a difference against the Eagles.
Monsignor Farrell ‘s Ryan Hanley, left, and St. Peter’s Tyler Schoenberg jostle for position during A CHSAA Staten Island division game on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)
“I think those first four games helped us a lot,’’ said the junior. ”Those were all close games and nobody felt we were an 0-4 team. Just playing in those close games 100% helped us and now we showed we know how to win.’’
The 1-2 Eagles (0-2 CHSAASI), who were led by senior Nico Parlanti (17 points), followed an Abreu interior bucket with baskets from Noah Scott and Parlanti to forge a 35-35 tie with just under 6:00 left in the game.
But the Lions took centerstage shortly after beginning with Abreu burying a right-corner trey off a pretty Scalisi feed with 5:27 left. Gomez then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and put it in and a short time later, Abreu’s steal and fast-break layup gave Farrell a 42-35 lead and had Woods signaling for time.
“I just play. I’m kind of used to (the fanfare of playing against St. Peter’s) and in big games my whole life,’’ said Abreu. ”I don’t know how to explain it.
Monsignor Farrell’s Jack Gomez, center, is guarded by St. Peter’s Dennis Corson while he searches for an open teammate during Friday’s CHSAA Staten Island division game in New Brighton.(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)
“It felt good to come through. My teammates kept setting me up. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be scoring.’’
“I referred to (Abreu) as a jack-of-all-trades and a coach’s dream in the season preview — that kid plays hard every minute of every game. He’s locked in during every practice and he just does everything right,’’ praised Fisher. “He puts himself in the right position to score. We don’t run a lot of stuff for him, but he gets everything off of making the right plays.
“He makes the most of his opportunities.’’
Farrell center Ryan Hanley, however, drained a pair of free throws out of the timeout to give the visitors a game-high nine-point lead (44-35) with 3:57 to go.
St. Peter’s, however, wouldn’t go quietly. The host team staged a 12-5 run behind Parlanti and sophomore center Tyler Schoenberg in a 2:38 span to stay within striking distance. When Parlanti buried a pair of free throws with 1:09 on the clock, Farrell’s lead was down to 49-47.
The Eagles had a chance to tie it inside the final minute and got several shots, but Farrell got a stop after Hanley grabbed the defensive board and was fouled. Following a timeout, Gomez took out the ball to the right of the basket and rifled a diagonal pass over the top of SP’s full-court pressure. A streaking Abreu caught up to it on the other side of halfcourt and went to the basket for a layup that upped Farrell’s lead to 51-47 with 30 ticks left.
Monsignor Farrell guard JJ Yates (5) looks to dribble away from St. Peter’s Victor Baez, right, and Tyler Schoenberg while teammate Ryan Hanley looks on during a CHSAA Staten Island game on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.(Advance/SILive.com | Annie De Biase)
“(Gomez and Abreu) made a really good read,’’ said Fisher. ”That wasn’t our look, but the way Peter’s adjusted to where our guys were moving — Jack kind of saw it and made a really good play.’’
Gomez, meanwhile, connected on 1 of 2 freebies a short time later to solidify Farrell’s victory.
“We really wanted it for (coach Fisher). It’s his first win and a lot more coming,’’ Abreu said with a smile. ”It’s important to us. I love coach Fisher and it means a lot to be a part of his first win.’’
NOTES: When St. Peter’s opened the second quarter with a 10-2 Parlanti-led run, it owned a 22-15 lead with 3:30 left in the half. Farrell, however, rode the play of Scalisi (two baskets, assist) to a 9-4 half-ending run that trimmed SP’s lead to 26-24 at intermission … Farrell committed just nine turnovers, SP 11 … The Lions owned a 17-4 advantage in free-throw attempts and connected on 13 of them, including a 6-for-7 performance from Yates … Victor Baez and Scott finished with 10 points apiece and Schoenberg added eight for the Eagles … Abreu finished with three treys while Parlanti, Baez and Scott had two apiece … Gomez took the lone charge of the game … The teams will meet again in Oakwood on Jan. 9 … The Eagles played just three games since opening the season on Thanksgiving Eve, but beginning with Friday’s game against the Lions, they play every other day through Dec. 22.