CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down Saturday’s CHSAA Class A intersectional first round games at Mount St. Michael.
Here’s the schedule:
1 p.m. – Cardinal Spellman vs. Moore Catholic
2:30 p.m. – Regis vs. LaSalle
4 p.m. – St. John’s Prep vs. Monsignor Farrell
For live Twitter updates, click here.
Cardinal Spellman Pilots
Head coach: Fred Opper
Record: 6-17
Player to watch: Kenny Ruiz
Moore Catholic Mavericks
Head coach: Tony Rafaniello
Record: 7-16
Player to watch: Scott Schaefer
Outlook: The opener of the tripleheader is between a pair of young teams. The Pilots snapped a six-game losing streak with a regular-season ending 63-50 win at Regis Tuesday. Spellman is led by senior forward Kenny Ruiz, while sophomore Anthony Williams has Fred Opper optimistic about the future.
Moore Catholic is playing its best basketball late in season, having won three of its last four games. The Mavericks rely on a talented sophomore core and balanced scoring from Scott Schaefer, John Baggs, Matthew Padilla and Mark Fiorello.
The winner advances to the second round to take on Archbishop Stepinac Tuesday at Cardinal Spellman.
Regis Raiders
Head coach: Kevin Cullen
Record: 10-14
Player to watch: Billy Carballeira
LaSalle Academy Cardinals
Head coach: Al Barbosa
Record: 3-15
Player to watch: Kendall Brown
Outlook: This is the second meeting between the teams in less than a week. On Monday, Regis led throughout in a 56-52 home victory. In that game, and throughout the season, Billy Carballeira led the Raiders, scoring a game-high 27 points. Dan Morris, a threat from beyond the arc, added 18 for Regis, which won four of its final six games.
LaSalle has struggled mightily this season and takes a 13-game losing streak into its first-round encounter. But the Cardinals have played back-to-back close games – a 47-42 loss to St. John’s Prep and the four-point loss to Regis. LaSalle was led in that game by Kendall Brown, who had 14 points, Martin Wilson, who had 13 and Chris Polanco’s 12.
The winner takes on Monsignor McClancy in the second round Tuesday at Holy Cross.
St. John’s Prep Red Storm
Head coach: Darius Penikas
Record: 4-16
Player to watch: Ryan Yearwood
Monsignor Farrell Lions
Head coach: Mike Dunn
Record: 12-12
Player to watch: Joe Busacca
Outlook: Junior guard Ryan Yearwood has carried the Red Storm through thick and mostly thin this season, but when the Red Storm are successful, as was the case against LaSalle last Saturday and in the second half of a stirring comeback against Spellman that fell just short, there is more of a balanced attack.
Monsignor Farrell has thrived under first-year coach Mike Dunn. Led by Joe Busacca and Tom Delahanty, the Lions have won seven of their last nine games, including an upset of St. Peter’s on Jan. 11, and reached the semifinals of the SIHSL tournament, losing to the Eagles by 20.
The winner meets Xavier in the second round Tuesday at Cardinal Spellman.
