Paul Gilvary didn’t have to say a word. The Holy Cross players knew something was wrong. Among themselves this week, they vowed to play for their coach.
“Let’s do this for Coach Gil. This could be big,” Holy Cross senior forward Mairega Clarke said he told his teammates. “Everyone just came out and gave it their all.”
Gilvary’s mother died this week, but that was never a topic of conversation in practice. It didn’t have to be.
The senior-laden, second-seeded Knights came back from an early hole to beat No. 5 Bishop Loughlin, 60-57, to win the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens boys basketball championship last night at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows. It was Holy Cross’ first diocesan title since 2007 despite making the final five of the last seven seasons.
“We knew if we won this game, it would be for Coach Gil,” senior guard Marquise Moore said. “Through practice all week, that’s what was on our minds. … That just inspired us to come out here and play the hardest we’ve ever played to come out and win this game.”
Moore finished with 25 points, Clarke and Eddie Roscigno had 10 points each and Anthony Libroia had nine assists and nine rebounds. Clarke added seven blocks, controlling the lane. The Knights now head into the intersectional playoffs as the top seed from Brooklyn/Queens. They get a berth into the quarterfinals, set for March 4 at Fordham University.
Gilvary didn’t want to talk much about his mother’s death, but he was touched his players would dedicate the victory to him.
“It’s not about me,” the coach said. “It’s always about them. They’re the ones that do all the work, and they’re the ones that should reap all the benefits and get all the accolades. … It’s just been a tough week, let’s leave it that.”
Perhaps it got just a bit better.
