By Anthony Bosco
The Holy Cross High School varsity boys’ basketball team got its first league win of the season Friday night, narrowly defeating neighborhood rival St. Francis Prep, 64-63.
On Alumni Recognition Night at the Flushing high school — which featured more than 60 former Cross players, including Bob McIntyre, Billy Schaffer, Willie Dersch, Andre Alridge and Pete LaMantia — the current Knights did not disappoint.
Playing a red-hot St. Francis Prep team fresh off a win over Xaverian, the undersized Cross team went toe-to-toe with the Terriers. Sophomore guard Gordon McKenzie locked up Prep leading scorer Bryan Geffen, holding the standout junior to just 12 points on the day, well below the Baysider’s average.
“I thought we did a nice job on Bryan Geffen,” said Holy Cross coach Paul Gilvary. “We just played him. We were aware of where he was and tried not to give him too many easy baskets.”
The strategy paid off, as Cross (9-6, 1-3 CHSAA) trailed Prep by just one at the half, 29-28, and took a one-point lead into the fourth quarter.
“It was close the whole way,” Gilvary said. “They had been playing very well all season and we knew they were good. But I think we’re pretty good, too.”
The two teams went back and forth at each other throughout the final period before Joe Connor nailed a three-pointer with 1:20 remaining to give the Knights a three-point advantage. Nick Rollins then connected on two clutch free throws with 16 seconds remaining to stretch the lead from two to four. Andrew Cashin hit a three for Prep at the buzzer to pull the Terriers within one.
Gary Hawkins led the way for the Knights with 18 points. Ramose Modesto added 15 and Michael Johnson netted 10.
“It’s just St. Francis is a better matchup for us than a lot of teams in the league because they are not big,” Gilvary said. “We’re much better playing against teams closer to our own size.”
Archbishop Molloy 81, Edgewater (Fla.) 70. Sundiata Gaines scored 36 points and Marlon Smith added 17 to defeat the No. 20 ranked team in the nation, according to USAToday Monday at the Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational in Springfield, Mass. Edgewater came into the game with an 18-0 record. Molloy improved to 10-6 overall on the season.
Archbishop Molloy 79, Roanoke (Va.) 68. Gaines scored 22 points and Smith added 10 in this non-league game Sunday.
Christ the King 65, Archbishop Molloy 57. CK guards Japhet McNeil and Mitchell Beauford combined for 38 points, out-dueling Molloy’s Gaines and Smith, who combined for 24, as the Royals topped the Stanners Friday night in Briarwood. Brian Williams and Justin Marshall added 12 points apiece and each registered double-digits in rebounds for the Royals, now 13-1 overall and 5-0 in CHSAA league play. Molloy dips to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in league play.
Cathedral Prep 70, Salesian 55. Bradd Wierzbicki continued his torrid scoring this past week, dropping 24 in a league win over Salesian. Kevin McGrath chipped in 18, as the Crusaders raised their record to 12-3 overall and a perfect 9-0 in CHSAA C action.
St. John’s Prep 72, Nazareth 36. The Red Storm blew past the Kingsmen behind a 13-point performance from Jamel Bedford. St. John’s Prep is now 9-5 overall and 5-2 in CHSAA B South action.
Xaverian 82, Monsignor McClancy 59. The Clippers were led by Terrance Portis’ 16 points and 11 points from Junior Marshall in this league win over the Crusaders, who fall to 0-6 in league play with the loss.
Xaverian 59, Holy Cross 48. The Knights played the Clippers tough, but could not overcome an all-star performance by big man Chris Taft, who scored a game-high 30 points. Teammate Saiquan Stone added 9 points and 7 assists for the victors.
St. John’s Prep 69, Bishop Ford 59. Bryan Dunston, nephew of major league ballplayer Shawn Dunston, registered a double-double, scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds and 8 blocks in this league win. Serege Clement led the Red Storm with 19 points and 7 assists.
Archbishop Molloy 74, Monsignor McClancy 59. Ivan Marnika scored 17 points with 15 rebounds, while Gaines led the way with 21 points and 8 boards, and Smith scored 15 to pace Molloy. Nick Hamilton’s 16 points led McClancy.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
