The odds were stacked high and Frank McQuail knew it. After all, Cathedral Prep had won just one game during the regular season and lost three times to top-seeded Salesian by an average of 23.6 points per game.
“The idea was to keep it close and we’ll find a way hopefully,” the Crusaders coach said. “We don’t make shots consistently. I think tonight early we were a little scared. I’ve got one senior [Chris Liander] who has played before and a bunch of young kids.”
Cathedral Prep stayed close early, but Salesian proved to be too talented and too athletic as the Eagles won, 67-37, to advance to the CHSAA Class B intersectional title game Monday night at Mount St. Michael.
Bronx native Kevin Punter had a game-high 21 points and Jason Alleyne added 10 for Salesian (18-3), while Liander and John Starace scored 13 points apiece for Cathedral Prep (1-20).
“They’re athletic, they’re big, and they’re strong. They’re everything we’re not,” McQuail said. “They should beat us by 30. Next week we’ll play [Rice or St. Raymond’s].”
Blessed Sacrament 54, Sacred Heart 45: David Samuels scored a game-high 29 points and David Rucker added 12 for Blessed Sacrament (8-11) in a CHSAA Class B semifinal Monday at Mount. The Cardinals advance to Friday’s Class B final at Fordham University to face Salesian. Kevin Henry had 15 points for Sacred Heart (16-8).
