NYPost.com’s CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Marc Raimondi breaks down the Class A semifinals, starting 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mount St. Michael in The Bronx. For real-time updates via Twitter, click here.
SCHEDULE
@ Mount St. Michael
6 p.m. – St. Edmund Prep vs. Xavier
7:30 p.m. – Moore Catholic vs. Iona Prep
St. Edmund Prep Eagles
Head coach: Dan Wiatre
Record: 19-6
Player to watch: Matt O’Neill
Xavier Knights
Head coach: Joe McGrane
Record: 13-9
Player to watch: Matt Crockett
Outlook: At the beginning of the season, St. Edmund Prep was a longshot to make it here – the Eagles were selected last in Brooklyn/Queens by the league coaches. But coach Dan Wiatre and his boys have done a fantastic job, winning a second straight division title and beating St. Joseph by the Sea in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Xavier was in a similar boat midseason, in the midst of a long losing streak and seemingly coming apart at the seams. The Knights are young and have been up and down all year. Consider this part of the up. Matt Crockett and Brendan Ferguson are very dangerous on the offensive end and Xavier, a favorite to win the ‘A’ at the beginning of the season, is one win away from reaching the finals.
St. Edmund Prep, led by Matt O’Neill, Nick Grasso and Chris Tsatsis, have the added inspiration of playing for Jose Rodriguez, a sophomore who died during tryouts back in November. The Eagles would love to win it all for him. Xavier, on the other hand, has already beaten St. Edmund once this year and wants to do it one more time.
Moore Catholic Mavericks
Head coach: Tony Rafaniello
Record: 20-5
Player to watch: Scott Schaefer
Iona Prep Gaels
Head coach: Vic Quirolo
Record: 21-3
Player to watch: Felix Abongo
Outlook: The first time the two teams met up in New Rochelle, it was a classic. There were twists, turns and technical fouls. Ray Savage, who had just come into the game a minute earlier, scored his first basket, beating the buzzer and giving Moore Catholic a dramatic victory.
These were the two best ‘A’ teams all year and many feel like they should not be meeting again until the finals. But this is where the CHSAA’s pre-seeded bracket has them playing each other. As Moore coach Ton Rafaniello said, you have to beat everyone eventually anyway.
Like in the first contest, Moore shooting guard Mark Fiorello made huge 3-pointers late to help the Mavericks pull out a victory over Bishop Ford in the quarterfinals. Moore was down as much as 12 in the second half. Fiorello tied the game in regulation and put the Mavs ahead in overtime. Scott Schaefer was also vital, like he was against the Gaels.
Moore had no answer for Felix Abongo and his size and athleticism last time, so he could be in for a big game. Tim McCarthy has been nursing an Achilles injury, but his size should give the smaller Mavericks issues inside. Luke Wooters, who is coming off a concussion, has been a revelation late in the season. All those guys should contribute to what should end up being another thriller.
