By Anthony Bosco
A smile adorned Jack Curran’s face as he stood in the doorway of his team’s locker room at Fordham University. His Molloy Stanners had just defeated the Holy Cross Knights, 68-59, in the CHSAA semifinals, earning a spot against St. Raymond’s in the title game, and the coach seemed more than pleased.
And why not? The Stanners were near-perfect in the second half of the semifinal match-up against their Queens rivals, hitting 13-of-19 from the field in overcoming a three-point halftime deficit.
The trip to the finals — to have been played Wednesday — is Molloy’s first since 1988, when Kenny Anderson led the team.
“This is a unique team,” said Curran on his 20-9 squad, which more than had its share of troubles this season. “There were times when I thought that [we wouldn’t make it]. I think they’re OK now. We only need it for another game.”
Against Holy Cross (20-9) Sunday, the Stanners needed to be that good in the second half. Despite seven early points by Molloy’s Wendell Gibson, the Knights, led by the sharp-shooting of senior Joe Marino, began to take command of a close game in the second quarter.
Trailing 13-11 with 6:41 remaining in the second quarter, Cross got a three from Miguel Gonzalez and a basket by Pierre Ward to take a three-point lead. Molloy answered with consecutive baskets by John Maser and John Jemmott and then scored again when John Sikiric stole the ball and dished to Maser, who nailed a three-pointer, giving Molloy a 20-16 lead with 3:56 to go in the half.
But Cross answered back with consecutive threes by Marino to retake the lead. After Molloy tied it again, the Knights got two free throws by Marino and a bucket from Gonzalez to go up by four. Kevin Diffley’s lone free throw at the 1:09 mark made the Molloy deficit three at the break, 26-23.
The second half, however, was all Molloy.
The Stanners tied the game at 28 at the 6:31 mark of the third quarter when Maser connected from long range and, following a basket by Cross’ Michael Howell, Thomas Harrison hit for three to give Molloy the lead. Sikiric was fouled in the act by Marino, connecting on the bucket and free throw before Maser hit again, giving the Stanners a six-point lead, 36-30.
Maser, who crept into the starting lineup following sophomore Marlon Smith’s stomach virus in February, finished with 18 points, 13 in the second half.
“We wanted to bring the intensity level up [in the second half],” Maser said. “We thought we were playing too relaxed. I wanted to get off to a good start in the second half.”
The lead grew to seven after Chris Fileti drained a jumper at 4:31 and Maser counted with another three a minute later, prompting Holy Cross head coach Paul Gilvary to call a timeout.
The break didn’t stop Molloy, which extended its lead to 10 moments later on back-to-back baskets from Jemmott and Maser. Cross managed to cut the lead to five just before the end on the third when Gonzalez went strong to the hole, making the basket while getting fouled by Gibson.
Fileti kicked off the fourth with a three to pull the Knights within two, 45-43, but Molloy quickly answered. A three by Sikiric at 6:39 and two free throws by Gibson pushed the lead to seven. Ward’s right side jumper at 5:35 cut it to five again, but two free throws by Harrison and yet another trey by Maser gave Molloy a 10-point lead with 4:39 remaining in regulation.
“Maser came through really big and the foul shooting was great,” Curran said. “We knew [Maser] was always capable. When they are double- and triple-teaming Wendell, somebody has too shoot. He came through big tonight.”
The game was locked up by the Stanners, who made 9-of-10 from the charity stripe down the stretch, six by Gibson, the 6-foot-7 Hofstra signee. Gibson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
“It was a tough road to get here,” said Gibson, who was briefly suspended from the team this season following an emotional outburst after a 78-65 loss to St. Ray’s. “What matters is we’re here. It was worth it. The stuff in the beginning helped make us stronger.”
Sikiric added 12 points for the Stanners. Cross was led by Marino’s 18, while Gonzalez added 13.
Molloy 52, All Hollows 43. The Stanners defeated the Bronx/Manhattan champs last Wednesday to advance to the semifinals, getting 18 points from Gibson and 11 from Sikiric. All Hollows hit just 7-of-32 shots from the field in the second half.
Holy Cross 78, St. Francis Prep 73 (3 OT). The Knights needed three overtimes to get past St. Francis Prep (10-17). The Terriers lost starter Rashad Bell in the second overtime and simply could not keep up with Cross. Gonzalez and Marino led the Knights with 23 each, followed by Adam Frederic with 14 and Fileti with 12. Bell, the league MVP, led Prep with 28 points, 17 rebounds, six blocks and three steals.
St. Raymond’s 69, Christ the King 67. The Royals’ season came to an end last Thursday with a two-point loss to finalist St. Raymond’s at Manhattan College. CK was led by Peedy Nelson’s 29 points and Rob Barrett’s 20. The Royals led 28-26 at half and the game was tied going into the fourth at 44. The Ravens’ work on the offensive glass was the key down the stretch. Julius Hodge led St. Ray’s with 24 points, six rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Chris McRae had 16.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
