STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Moore Catholic got solid performances from its three-headed senior backcourt as the Mavs registered an important 55-52 CHSAA AA decision over Xavier HS, Saturday afternoon in Graniteville.
Sharp-shooting Matt Gibbons pumped in a season-high 16 points, while classmates Nick DeGrado (14) and Eenej Vinson (12) also hit double-figures for head man Todd Byrnes.
“We played a full 32 minutes and that was the difference,” Byrnes emphatically stated. “Even when they went on their run we didn’t quit; the boys kept pushing. Last month I honestly don’t think we would have done that. We are learning how to finish games out and compete from start to finish.”
Moore held leads of 18-10 after one and 31-26 at the break.
Vinson netted eight in the opening period, while DeGrado and Gibbons split 10. Gibbons scored six in the second.
DeGrado and Gibbons each nailed three treys from beyond the arc, while junior big man Alexander Raphael chipped in with six for the Mavs.
Aleksander Kovacevic and Tim Leahy scored 17 and 16, respectively, to lead the Knights.
SIA 79, CSIM 43
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Staten Island Academy ran its winning streak to 12 games to start the season, as the Tigers posted a convincing non-league home win Saturday.
Gabe Moschella paced the Tiger attack, as the junior poured in a game-high 21 points. Danny Nowak added 17 for SIA, while Luke DeVito chipped in with 13.
Patrick Tucker led the Dragons with 12 markers, while Danny O’Connor added 11.
After falling behind 5-0 to start the game, the Tigers used an Ayden Howe three-pointer to jump start their offense, as the hosts would explode for 27 first-quarter points. Moschella was especially effective in the first period, getting out on the fast break and driving to the basket on his way to 11 points in the quarter. Nowak, meanwhile, notched six in the period, and sophomore guard Mike Belkin added five for the winner’s.
“I was impressed with our defensive intensity throughout the game,” Tiger head coach Mike Mazella noted. “We were able to generate some turnovers that led to some runouts and easy baskets, especially in that opening period. Everything started with our defense today, and we knew we had to come out firing on all cylinders because CSIM came in hot and Danny (Lee) always has his guys ready to play.”
While Tucker would spearhead a Dragon run in the second period with seven points, the Tiger offense continued to hum, as three-pointers from Howe, DeVito, and John Elefterakis kept the visitors at bay.
“This might have been our most complete game of the season,” Mazella observed. “I loved how we shared the ball and we continued to play well when we had the lead. That’s been something we have been struggling to do in some of our recent wins.”
The Tigers (12-0 overall, 7-0 ACIS) jump back into league action on Monday when they host Leman Manhattan in the first of three consecutive ACIS contests next week.
“We are going to be tested with four games in six days next week,” Mazella warned. “I’m hoping we can build on the momentum from this game and continue to play with confidence as we get back into league play.”
New Dorp 82, Frank Macchiarola 55
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Centrals (11-4 overall) cruised to the PSAL win at home.
Sergio Battista continued his recent hot streak as he led the winners with a game-best 33 points, while Joshua Carter poured in 23. Omari Onwe had 11 for Pat Hopkins’ club.
“The team is starting to play better and better on the defensive end and different guys are stepping up and executing offensively,” offered Hopkins. “Carter played his most complete game of the year today, aside from scoring he controlled the glass against a very good team. Battista continues to settle into his role, playing great ball. There is definitely still work to do, but the boys have been playing well.”
The teams were tied at 18 after a period, but Carter’s 10-point second stanza gave the Centrals a 34-26 edge heading to the locker room. Battista exploded for 14 fourth-quarter markers to bust things open as the Island school outscored their Brooklyn counterparts 26-7.
Mohammed Kadel led the Sharks with 30.
ND visits Fort Hamilton Monday at 4:30 p.m.
MSIT 60, New Utrecht 31
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Dalton Cherubin pumped in 14 points and Ray Guerriero 12 as the Gulls coasted to the PSAL win at home.
MSIT bolted to a 38-20 lead at the intermission and never looked back as 11 players cracked the scoring column in the rout.
Charlie Donohue’s squad is back on the hardwood again Monday night when it hosts Tottenville in a crucial PSAL 3A test at 6 p.m.
Sea 44, Fordham Prep 37
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Nick Rebracca continued his strong season as the forward hit for a game-high 17 points to lead the Vikings (9-5 overall) to the CHSAA AA triumph in Huguenot.
The long-armed junior only hit hit a pair of buckets from the field in the game (two, three), but converted 12 of 16 from the charity stripe to propel his team to the win.
Head coach Mike Cortese’s club received eight points from Nick Lee and six from Joey Moran, while John Paturzo and Luca Mineo split eight.
Devlin Sharkey led the Rams with 15.
Sea’s defense held the Bronx school to just one field goal and led 13-2 after one, but the Rams one-upped the Vikings in the second, holding them scoreless from the field as Sea led 15-14 at the break.
Sea held a slim 27-24 edge entering the final eight minutes of play and leaned on Rebracca’s 9 of 10 shooting from the line to seal the win.
Cortese’s club is back in action Tuesday (5 p.m.) versus Monsignor McClancy in another AA test.
Jacob Razefsky drives to the basket for Monsignor Farrell in the teams 68-64 win over St. Peter’s, Friday night at home. Razefsky had 10 markers in the win.photo credit, murph.flics
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Farrell 68, St. Peter’s 64
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Lions saw a 12-point lead late in the fourth period dwindle down to two in the final minute, but head coach Peter Tutrone’s troops held on for the big home win Friday night in Oakwood.
Joe Iacono tossed in a team-high 17 points, including 10 in the final period to spark the winners, who swept the season series from the Eagles. Bryce Moye (12), Vincent Kraker (11), Colin Cook (11) and Jacob Razefsky (10) were also in double-digits for the Lions.
“We had a great week of practice and preparation and it was a great team win for our boys,” said Tutrone. “Coach (Matt) Genovese and his staff do such a good job with the team – we knew we had to be up to the challenge. I’m sure we will see each other again down the road.”
Farrell shot 12 of 15 from the line in the contest.
Ryan Tuite led the Eagles with 19, while John Greenwald and Mikhail Lopez split 30.
Petrides 65, CSIM 41
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Evan Duran threw in 22 points and Hamza Abuzarieh added 15 to lead the Panthers to the PSAL win.
Dean Wyne chipped in with 13 points, while Jack Palazzola had nine for the winners.
SIA 64, CSIM 30
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Tigers evened their record at 4-4 with the non-league home victory.
Rob Esposito notched nine first-quarter points for SIA on his way to a game-high 17, while Nathan Wildrick and Josiah Wheatley-Harewood tossed in 12 and 10, respectively, for the hosts. Sal Bongiorno and KP Pannell would split another 16 points for the Dongan Hills school.
Aidin Fici led the Dragons with nine markers, and Ahmed Taweh added seven for CSIM.
Teddy Liodakis (six points, including a buzzer beating three-pointer at the end of the first quarter) and Patrick Sheehan (two points, five steals, four rebounds) helped spearhead the Tigers’ strong defensive pressure to generate numerous turnovers.
SIA returns to action on Monday when it hosts Leman Manhattan in ACIS action.