By Domenico Montanaro
But hype is something Molloy has been dealing with all season. The Stanners got out to a slow start, losing their opener to All Hallows and then to St. Dominic's after being projected as the city's team to beat.
It seems now, however, the team is beginning to gel.
With its size and newfound depth, Molloy (11-3, 4-0 CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens) will be tough to beat through the regular season and the ensuing playoffs.
“The preseason hype was a distraction,” Gibson said. “It was tough to ignore when they tell you you're that good. All Hallows woke us up and we've progressed from game to game.”
Cross (13-4, 3-2) came into the game with only three losses, but had lost two of its last three. The Knights opened the game aggressively, but their tallest player is 6-foot-4, too small for Gibson and the rest of the Molloy front line.
The Stanners won the game with out second-leading scorer, John Sikiric, who played only three minutes and was relegated to the bench because he was battling bronchitis.
“Our reserves are playing well,” Molloy coach Jack Curran said. “We're deeper than usual and I'm not afraid to put guys in. They thought they were going to win just by showing up [at the beginning of the season]. All Hallows surprised them. And so did St. Dominic's. But there is a better feel for the guys who can play now. Maybe by playoff time we'll be ready.”
The Stanners led from the opening tip and slowly expanded their advantage. Their largest lead was 20, their 19-point victory not far from that. Cross was down nine at halftime, 31-22, and got no closer than eight in the second half and that was only 54 seconds into the second stanza.
Gibson finished with 22 points (16 in the first half), 16 rebounds and two blocks. He shot 7-of-9 from the field and manhandled Cross defenders inside.
“We don't think one person can dominate,” Gibson said. “I was just trying to alter some shots and play our game.”
Curran said he planned on Gibson's size being an edge for Molloy's.
“I thought coming in that [Wendell] would be an advantage,” Curran said. “They threw two, three guys at him, but he is tough.”
Molloy outrebounded Cross 43-28 and the Knights shot just 37 percent (17-of-52) from the field and 11-of-20 from the foul line.
Thomas Harrison had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists, John Maser added 10points and John Jemott had nine points to make up for Sikiric.
Joe Marino led the Knights with 22 points before he fouled out and Chris Filetti added 12, including three three-pointers.
“There was some added incentive to play this game,” Gibson said. “I think we made a good statement.”
