BROOKLYN, N.Y. \u2014 Senior guard Nick DeGrado finished with a team-high 19 points, including the go-ahead basket in the waning seconds, as Moore Catholic registered a 52-48 CHSAA A division play-in victory over Monsignor McClancy Wednesday at Xaverian HS.<\/p>\n
The No. 9-seeded Mavericks (6-18), who also received offensive contributions from Alexander Raphael (13 points) and Matt Gibbons (nine points), earned a spot in Saturday\u2019s A quarterfinals. Moore will square off against top-seeded St. John\u2019s Prep at either Xaverian or Mount St. Michael in the Bronx on Saturday. <\/p>\n
The No. 9 Crusaders, who ended the season with a 9-16 mark, received a game-high 26 points from junior Brayden Ojeda.<\/p>\n
The Mavericks trailed the entire game, including 48-47 inside the final minute when DeGrado made a steal and layup for a one-point lead with 11 seconds on the clock. The three-year varsity player, who played the game under the weather, then proceeded to bury a pair of freebies in the waning seconds to help provide the final score.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeGrado was sick today (flu), but he still showed up and made multiple big plays for us,\u2019’ said first-year Moore head coach Todd Byrnes, noting his senior made several big defensive plays down the stretch. \u201dHe made big foul shots at the end. I\u2019m so proud of him and grateful I get to keep coaching him this season.\u2019’<\/p>\n
The Mavericks, who lost two close games to the Queens school during the regular season, trailed 38-33 entering the final quarter. However, they saved their best for last to notch the victory. <\/p>\n
DeGrado, in fact, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and Gibbons added five, including a big three-point play, before the former came through in the clutch with the game on the line.<\/p>\n
Sea 68, New Dorp 52<\/p>\n
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. \u2014 Junior sharp-shooter Nick Rebracca poured in a career-high 34 points on the strength of a career-best eight three-pointers as the Vikings rolled to the non-league victory over the visiting Centrals in Huguenot.<\/p>\n
Rebracca, who now averages an even 20.0 ppg, was also 4 for 4 from the free throw line as the Vikings improved to 15-9 overall. Sea will now direct its attention to Saturday\u2019s CHSAA A quarterfinal contest against Fordham Prep.<\/p>\n
In addition to Rebracca, Joey Moran scored 13 points while Arne Mattsson and Luca Mineo split another 12 markers for the Vkings.<\/p>\n
Elijah Pizarro finished with a team-high 17 points while Josh Carter (12 points), Omari Onwe (10 points) and Billy Fraser (nine points) also contributed offensively for the Centrals (17-7).<\/p>\n
The Vikings trailed 12-11 after one period, but thanks to Rebracca\u2019s red-hot shooting, they owned leads at halftime (29-22) and through three quarters (43-34) before pulling away in the final period.<\/p>\n
Colts Neck 52, Farrell 46<\/p>\n
COLTS NECK, N.J. \u2014 Senior JJ Yates scored a team-high 14 points, but the Lions struggled offensively in the fourth quarter before dropping the non-league decision to the host Cougars on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In addition to Yates, Matt Scalisi and Ryan Hanley added 11 and eight points, respectively, for Farrell, which dropped to 14-10 overall. The Lions, who earned the No. 2 seed for the upcoming CHSAA A division playoffs, will meet No. 7 St. Edmund\u2019s at a site and time TBD on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Sophomore Nate Sloane paced Colts Neck with a game-high 25 points.<\/p>\n
Thanks in part to Yates and Hanley (combined 21 points), the Lions and Cougars entered the final eight minutes tied at 38-38.<\/p>\n
Colts Neck, however, held Farrell to eight fourth-quarter points while Sloane, who finished with three three-pointers, scored seven points in the fourth quarter to help the hosts pull out the victory.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n