WILDWOOD, N.J. — Nick Rebracca turned in a fine all-around performance, pouring in a game-best 27 points, as St. Joseph by-the-Sea eked past St. Michael Catholic, 47-45, to even its mark at 1-1 in the Boardwalk Classic.
Rebracca, the Vikings’ leading scorer on the season, spread out his scoring with seven points in the first, five in the second, six in the third and six in the final period to carry the Huguenot school to the win. He was also a perfect 7 for 7 from the charity stripe, including all four of his fourth quarter attempts.
“Nick (Rebracca) showed his ability to score in a variety of ways today in a much needed win for us,” praised Sea HC Mike Cortese. “His teammates did a great job finding him in different spots on the court and he earned some the hard way by attacking the offensive boards. It was a big performance for him and us on the road.”
Sea held an eight-point lead after one and led 27-20 at the intermission, before SMC outscored the Vikings 15-8 in the third to pull even at 35 heading to the fourth.
Nick Lee had a key three in the fourth and Joey Moran (seven points) added a three-point play to aid Rebracca’s fourth quarter effort as Sea moved to 7-4 overall on the season.
Moore 60, Abington Friends (Pa.) 55
The Mavs took their opener in the Boardwalk Classic against a tough Philadelphia foe.
The Graniteville school’s three senior guards paved the way for the win as Eenej Vinson (14 points), Matt Gibbons (14) and Nick DeGrado (10) were all in double-digits. Big man Alexander Raphael added nine and reserve guards Matt Mieles and Ky Perez teamed for another 11.
The Mavs (2-6) are back in action Tuesday when they match up with Pennsbury HS for a 1 p.m. tip.
Lake Howell 49, Monsignor Farrell 35
DAYTONA, Fla. — JJ Yates canned 16 points, including three triples, but it wasn’t enough as the Lions dropped their first game down south.
The Oakwood school led 23-16 at the break, but managed just two points in the pivotal third as Lake Howell went on a 17-2 tear to pull away.
Isaac Buckley totaled a game-high 23 points and Ethan Diaz scored eight of his 11 points in the third to power LH.
The loss halted Farrell’s win skein at five games. They are back in action Tuesday morning (11:30) against Winter Haven.
McKee/S.I. Tech’s Dalton Cherubin, right, netted 19 points in the Seagulls’ win on Monday. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon)Staten Island Advance
MSIT 74, CSIM 68
Ray Guerriero powered his way to a season-high 20 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, as the Seagulls won in the MSIT Christmas Showcase in New Dorp.
Dalton Cherubin had another fine outing with 19 points, while Nizayah Jordan was also in double figures with 11. Lucas Gavin and Terence Legrand split 16 for Charlie Donohue’s troops.
Jordan buried a pair of first-period triples as MSIT (7-5) got out to a quick start with a 19-10 lead after one. CSIM senior guard Stanley Kushnir (20 points) heated up from long range with a trio of three-pointers in the second period as the Dragons (5-7 overall) parlayed a 26-point second into a 36-31 halftime edge.
However, the Gulls regrouped, and led by the play of Cherubin and Guerriero (eight points apiece in the stanza), regained a 51-47 advantage they would never relinquish headed to the final eight minutes of play.
“Tough win against a tough team, who always comes to play,” stated MSIT coach Charlie Donohue. “We as a team have to learn how to play in close games down the stretch. Mixing in Ray (Guerriero) and getting Jordan back healthy is something we look forward to bringing in the new year; now it’s about finding our rhythm.”
CSIM’s Patrick Tucker was the game’s high-point man with 22, while Xavier Farley added 14.
SIA 75, Petrides 67
The Tigers upped their record to 10-0 with the triumph in the MSIT Christmas Showcase.
Danny Nowak led the Tigers with 19 points, while Gabe Moschella and Luke DeVito added 18 and 15, respectively.
Petrides’ Daynell Rowland poured in 31 points, and Kareem Nesbitt scored 13 for the Panthers, all in the second half.
Moschella’s 10 first-half markers helped the Tigers build a comfortable 36-21 halftime lead, and the duo of DeVito and Nowak teamed for 14 in the third to help increase the lead. The Tigers also received a great boost from senior guard, Lorenzo Malpeso, who connected for seven points and played a strong floor game.
“We were getting some crisp ball movement and some good looks in the first three quarters,” Tigers’ head coach Mike Mazella noted. “Lorenzo was terrific and gave us a spark, and Luke stepped up and did a great job holding Nesbitt scoreless in the first half. In the second half, though, when we switched to a zone, we became a bit complacent. And you have to give Petrides credit for making a run at us in the fourth quarter. They have a couple of really talented scorers, and they started hitting shots.”
The Panthers would connect for six treys in the second half and would score 27 points in the final quarter to eat into the Tiger lead.
“I think we are all thrilled to be undefeated at this point,” Mazella observed. “And one of the things that is so encouraging is the fact that we aren’t satisfied and certainly realize we still have so much room for improvement.”
The Tigers’ next contest will come in just over a week, when they travel to Brooklyn next Tuesday to take on league foe and perennial ACIS power Packer Collegiate.