CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down Tuesday’s Class A intersectional second round games at Cardinal Spellman and Holy Cross.
Here’s the schedule:
@ Cardinal Spellman
5:30 p.m. – Archbishop Stepinac vs. Cardinal Spellman
7 p.m. – Xavier vs. Monsignor Farrell
@ Holy Cross
6 p.m. – Monsignor McClancy vs. Regis
7:30 p.m. – Iona Prep vs. Bishop Ford
Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders
Head coach: Tim Philp
Record: 15-9
Player to watch: Conroy Baltimore
Cardinal Spellman Pilots
Head coach: Fred Opper
Record: 7-17
Player to watch: Kenny Ruiz
Outlook: Led by Lehigh-bound forward Conroy Baltimore, Archbishop Stepinac opens its Class A intersectional title defense against a Cardinal Spellman team it beat by 24 in its lone regular-season matchup Jan. 21 in White Plains.
And while the Crusaders, who also feature hard-nosed guard James Chillemi and the imposing forward Austin Taps in the paint, are heavily favored, Spellman has two things going its way – the Pilots have nothing to lose and they’re playing at home.
“This is a headline game,” Stepinac coach Fred Opper said after his team defeated Moore Catholic, 56-48, in the first round on Saturday. “Stepinac could have named the score when we played them up there, but I told them, ‘if by some chance we win, we’ll be headlines the next day. If they win, it will be well, yeah, they’re supposed to win.’”
Xavier Knights
Head coach: Joe McGrane
Record: 11-12
Player to watch: Eddie Sullivan
Monsignor Farrell Lions
Head coach: Mike Dunn
Record: 13-12
Player to watch: Joe Busacca
Outlook: It’s been a rollercoaster season for Xavier, which finished second in A-Central after beating Monsignor McClancy, 75-68, on the road last Tuesday. The Knights are guided by point guard Eddie Sullivan, and Brendan Ferguson has the ability to score points in bunches, as he did when he netted a game-high 32 points on six 3-pointers against the Crusaders.
Monsignor Farrell already has a playoff win under its belt, though the Lions had to sweat out a 50-49 win against St. John’s Prep in the first round, nearly blowing a 17-point, third-quarter lead. Farrell will be without 6-foot-7 forward Tom Delahanty, who suffered a badly sprained left ankle, but the Lions share the ball and have players like Garrett Dowd and Connor Nicholson who can knock down shots under duress.
“They’ve a very good team, a physical team and we’re going to have to play good basketball,” Farrell coach Mike Dunn said. “That’s all I ask for.”
Monsignor McClancy Crusaders
Head coach: Don Kent
Record: 14-10
Player to watch: Patrick Modzelewski
Regis Raiders
Head coach: Kevin Cullen
Record: 11-14
Player to watch: Billy Carballeira
Outlook: It was a disappointing end to the regular season for Monsignor McClancy, which failed in its attempt to claim the A-South division title. Instead, the Crusaders finished second for a third straight year. Patrick Modzelewski might be the most diverse player in Class A. The 6-foot-5 shooter is Brian Voelkel-lite. Christ the King transfer Jonathan Veloz has been a Godsend, while Chris Tzvantis does all the little things.
Regis has utilized its one-two punch of Billy Carballeira and Dan Morris all year and Saturday’s 64-46 first-round win against LaSalle was no different. The Raiders also received a big contribution from center Cameron Smith, who had eight points and six rebounds against the Cardinals.
Regis, which is attempting to advance to the Class A quarterfinals for the first time ever, pounded McClancy, 72-57, on Feb. 11, but according to coach Kevin Cullen, that gives the Crusaders the edge.
“Momentum is on their side, believe it or not,” Cullen said. “It’s always easier to get up for a team after a loss than it is when you beat them. Sometimes when you play a team you’ve beaten already, you get complacent and you don’t prepare as hard as you should.”
Iona Prep Gaels
Head coach: Vic Quirolo
Record: 11-12
Player to watch: James Gallery
Bishop Ford Falcons
Head coach: Denis Nolan
Record: 8-14
Player to watch: Josh Blasgrove
Outlook: Just two years ago, these two programs met in the Class A intersectional title game for a second consecutive year, but now the two sub-.500 clubs will battle in the second round at Holy Cross Tuesday.
James Gallery leads the Gaels, averaging 12.8 points per game, while Ben Borsellino (9.6 points per game) and Felix Abongo (9.2 ppg.) have been solid secondary threats for Iona Prep, which won just two of its final seven regular-season games.
Denis Nolan’s first year as Bishop Ford coach has been up and down, but the Falcons success has often come from its size inside, led by 6-foot-5 senior Eric Kippins II, 6-foot-4 sophomore Josh Blasgrove and 6-foot-3 Arend Augustus. The guards, though, need to stay out of foul trouble to give the Falcons a chance to advance.