{"id":110963,"date":"2026-01-24T12:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T12:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/110963\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T12:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T12:43:10","slug":"2026-borough-presidents-cup-petrides-bell-hits-1k-points-sias-litkenhaus-records-first-island-win-as-panthers-tigers-cruise-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/110963\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Borough President\u2019s Cup: Petrides\u2019 Bell hits 1K points, SIA\u2019s Litkenhaus records first Island win as Panthers, Tigers cruise (photos)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"B2Q5HIOIHJEHVMFBAPXGB3LL6Y\">STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.\u2014 The first-round Borough President\u2019s Cup matchup between Petrides and CSI\/McCown on Friday night was effectively done and dusted in the third quarter with the Panthers up 25, but the Moore Catholic gym still erupted when Asha Bell drilled a three, a bucket that marked the 1,000th point of her career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"DNRE3B72G5GTDH6J6MVWQSGXYM\">Bell finished with a game-high 22 points as Petrides cruised to a 50-21 victory to advance to the second round, capping a memorable night for the standout junior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NQ7CFM4ON5G3HKBYYHUERLYZFA\">\u201cIt feels good. It was something new for me, because I went from being a help to the team to having to lead the team,\u201d Bell said after the contest. <\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"PM3DT2226JFEBO24GWHTTOIQLE\">\u201cIt was hard stepping into that role, but I made it work and kept my team up at all times, and it felt good. As long as the team feels like family, I\u2019m good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"2R77CICWYRHSDJKBXIFJBGDGBY\">Bell\u2019s milestone continues a rare tradition at Petrides. During Bell\u2019s freshman year, former teammate Ysella Kosic \u201925 became just the second 1,000-point scorer in program history, with both players coached by Jen Delahanty. The head coach said guiding the pair \u201chas been a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"DRT4AWZ7IRGVVEWYMZZHWOLSCM\">\u201cWe\u2019ve never had two players on the same team score 1,000,\u201d Delahanty said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"QAU7HGOAI5DXVCFH6DYG5UNFPA\">\u201cYsela and Asha have been with me since they were freshmen; Ysela showed the underclassmen what it takes to reach a milestone and was a great role model for Asha. This year, as a junior, Asha stepped into those shoes, took control, and really worked on her game, especially her jump shot. They were great teammates together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"AC6NA7N2JJGVNPINW4EQCJ6MJE\">As for the game itself, the Panthers wasted little time asserting control, opening with a blistering 24-0 run that effectively decided the contest by the second quarter. Delahanty said the fast start reflected the team\u2019s uptempo identity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"LNO24DT3L5ENHDK7J3ZLPFQB24\">\u201cWe like to play at a fast tempo in our league because we have a bunch of players where basketball isn\u2019t their first sport,\u201d she said. \u201cWe like to get out and run when we can, get stops, and move from there, starting with defense that leads to offense,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"ACPGBAFXJZHNXLJZCUUVJL3DZM\">With the win, Petrides has set up a date with two-time defending champion St. Joseph by-the-Sea; the matchup presents a stiff challenge, and Delahanty emphasized the need for key adjustments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"ZPYU7FJCARHZRPZYEQIQWIN6UE\">\u201cWe definitely need to get better in transition,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"KM3LAROBXVFA7POOQHR6N3PJCI\">\u201cI know Sea likes to run; we also need to focus on rebounding and finding bodies. We just need to do that and execute our offensive, which includes not forcing the ball anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"SF6DBM2JIFGUPLJRTG74SRGJKU\">The Panthers and Vikings will tip off Saturday at 5 p.m. at CYO MIV.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-gallery-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769257404_PYTR6QZ2SJC4JG3Z6PPZZYSKY4.JPG\"  loading=\"lazy\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-gallery-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769258590_994_5TZZ2MWFJVCRBL4HDN2BLGHOQU.JPG\"  loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1\/20<\/p>\n<p class=\"image-gallery-caption\">2026 Borough President&#8217;s Cup: SIA vs. New Dorp &amp; Petrides vs. CSIM<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"TRUP2YSVO5CBDFIVBNSA56WUTY\">Staten Island Academy 70, New Dorp 26<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"KEWBCDCVJRFJBF5E5EXINGN42M\">Much like Bell reaching a milestone in a lopsided game, first-year coach Sandy Litkenhaus achieved a milestone of her own in Staten Island Academy\u2019s big victory over New Dorp, as the former Jaques Award winner earned her first win against a borough opponent as head coach of the Tigers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"DXI566MFCRHKXBJ3FO2LAEVXIQ\">\u201cIt was a great win. The team played together and did the things we\u2019ve been practicing, which was nice to see. They played hard, didn\u2019t back down, and didn\u2019t let up the whole game. That\u2019s all I could ask. Last year, they lost in the first round, so this was important for all of us to win,\u201d she said after the matchup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"FGTGCMWN4FGXRK6PFH2UI77ZJI\">The Tigers were led by a balanced offensive attack, with Alyssa Lopez (13 points), Adrianna Savary (12), and Chloe Factor (11) all in double-digit scoring figures, allowing all of Litkenhaus\u2019 players to get some shine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"OW77AGREYNEV5MEOZZWNZG6NAM\">\u201cEverybody can score, and when they move the ball and get the person in the open position, it makes it easy to put the ball in the basket. We have a lot of players who can all score, and they all have inside-outside games,\u201d the head coach explained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"YL6O7WKNFJFVHMTDAPYBHKWVJI\">The team\u2019s offense was also defined by free-flowing ball movement and precise passing, which Litkenhaus said \u201ctakes a lot of practice every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"33D44U5DORBGFBKPUABZUJ2OQI\">\u201cWe\u2019re working on reversing the ball, being in the right spot, and knowing where your teammate will be so you can pass quickly. That\u2019s the kind of stuff we practice every day. Sometimes the game gets a little out of control, and I have to remind them how to play. When they listen, it usually turns out pretty good for us,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"QG2YR3CSWRENHDLEYISBNXC2OI\">Lastly, Litkenhaus credited several New Dorp players she had coached in travel ball and CYO for their performances, half-joking that \u201cit was hard to fight the urge to want to coach them tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"OGKZRBY3TBDZZDKLDCLMS2FFGQ\">\u201cI coached the three Ferrante sisters, and they\u2019ve always been strong outside shooters. Alessia is a good ball handler and handled the pressure from our defense very well. I also coached Olivia [Andruszkow] in travel; she\u2019s gotten stronger, developed her outside shot, and looks for the open person. Jonai [Prince], whom I coached at St. Christopher\u2019s, is also a strong forward and rebounder. I had coached these five since second grade, so it was great to see them all play well,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"4YMWINOCA5DFJGAY5BGLYIRYKU\">With the win, the Tigers will meet Notre Dame Academy on Saturday at CYO MIV, tipping off at 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.\u2014 The first-round Borough President\u2019s Cup matchup between Petrides and CSI\/McCown on Friday night was effectively&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":110964,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[9,24,63,134,136,135],"class_list":{"0":"post-110963","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-staten-island","8":"tag-new-york","9":"tag-new-york-city","10":"tag-nyc","11":"tag-staten-island","12":"tag-staten-island-headlines","13":"tag-staten-island-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=110963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/110963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/110964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=110963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=110963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}