CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down Saturday’s Class A intersectional quarterfinals at Mount St. Michael.
Here’s the schedule:
11 a.m. – Mount St. Michael vs. Monsignor McClancy
3 p.m. – Fordham Prep vs. Archbishop Stepinac
4:30 p.m. – Cardinal Hayes vs. Monsignor Farrell
6 p.m. – St. Edmund Prep vs. Iona Prep
Mount St. Michael Mountaineers
Head coach: Tom Fraher
Record: 23-1
Player to watch: Peter Aguilar
Monsignor McClancy Crusaders
Head coach: Don Kent
Record: 15-10
Player to watch: Patrick Modzelewski
Outlook: A loss at Cardinal Hayes was the only blip in Mount St. Michael’s dominant regular season. Led by senior swingman Pete Aguilar, who averages 24.6 points per game, and tough-as-nails junior point guard Malik Gill, the Mountaineers are a favorite to reach the Class A intersectional final.
That was also true last year, but Mount was upset at home in the quarterfinals by St. Joseph by the Sea. On Saturday, Tom Fraher’s squad is back home, again a favorite, again in the quarterfinals.
Will history repeat itself?
This time the opponent is Monsignor McClancy, a team Mount beat by 23 in East Elmhurst earlier this season. The Crusaders feature 6-foot-5 senior forward Patrick Modzelewski and Christ the King transfer Jonathan Veloz, a dynamic duo who helped lead McClancy to a 76-65 second round win against Regis Tuesday.
That win avenged a double-digit regular season loss. Can Don Kent’s squad do it again Saturday?
“We’re ready to play, we’re not intimidated by anyone,” Kent said after beating Regis. “They beat us back in December, but this is one and done. Anything can happen.”
Fordham Prep Rams
Head coach: Kevin Pigott
Record: 20-4
Player to watch: Tom Whelan
Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders
Head coach: Tim Philp
Record: 16-9
Player to watch: Conroy Baltimore
Outlook: Fordham Prep won seven of its final eight regular season games to win the A-Central division title and earn a double bye into the quarterfinals. Led by Tom Whelan, who averages 14.1 points per game, the Rams can all shoot the ball and are a difficult team to defend against. But Kevin Pigott’s squad is still in search of that signature win. All of its losses – including a 55-49 defeat against Stepinac – have come against A-North squads.
Archbishop Stepinac is the defending Class A intersectional champions and is starting to play like a serious championship contender. They enter the quarterfinals riding a four-game winning streak, including a 20-point win at Cardinal Spellman in the second round. Lehigh-bound Conroy Baltimore is the marquee player, but the Crusaders, who also feature guards Julian Wright and James Chillemi, are a balanced bunch offensively.
Cardinal Hayes Cardinals
Head coach: Joe Lods
Record: 19-5
Player to watch: Amadou Sidibe
Monsignor Farrell Lions
Head coach: Mike Dunn
Record: 14-12
Player to watch: Joe Busacca
Outlook: On Feb. 8, Cardinal Hayes ended Mount St. Michael’s 20-game winning streak and Fadil Yacoubou declared the Cardinals as the favorite to win the Class A title. Granted, three days later Hayes lost at Archbishop Stepinac, but Joe Lods’ squad is expected to return to Rose Hill Gym for a second straight year.
While Hayes has the most intimidating frontcourt in Class A with Amadou Sidibe and Jalen Jenkins, Devon Sylvester is the engine. When Sylvester is in foul trouble, Hayes is, too, in trouble.
A year ago, it was St. Joseph by the Sea that went from unknown to a surprise semifinalist and now Staten Island foe Monsignor Farrell is attempting to play the part. The Lions survived a furious fourth-quarter rally by St. John’s Prep in a first-round win and then defeated Xavier, 52-49, in the second round Tuesday.
In both games, sophomore Connor Nicholson has come up with a huge late-game shot. If he can do it again, not only will the Lions avenge a 77-63 loss on Dec. 17, but they will have pulled off the upset of the tournament.
St. Edmund Prep Eagles
Head coach: Dan Wiatre
Record: 15-9
Player to watch: David Louison
Iona Prep Gaels
Head coach: Vic Quirolo
Record: 12-12
Player to watch: Felix Abongo
Outlook: St. Edmund Prep won its final four regular season games and claimed the A-South. David Louison has led the Eagles, averaging 16 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks a game and was a unanimous All A-South division selection.
Greg Beehler (8.6 points per game) and Matt O’Neill (6.8 ppg.) have also been key contributors to St. Edmund Prep, which beat Iona Prep, 57-55, in overtime Jan. 2 in New Rochelle. It was the Eagles first road win against the Gaels since 2000.
Iona Prep isn’t the powerhouse program it was for the last three years, but the Gaels are still a difficult team to play in the playoffs, especially with coach Vic Quirolo stressing stingy defense. Iona Prep defeated Bishop Ford, 43-40, in the second round Tuesday, rallying from a 12-point deficit.
“We’re looking forward to playing [St. Edmund] again,” Felix Abongo said after the game.
