Molloy comes up empty in B/Q quarters

Archbishop Molloy is the midst of another streak. However, it is not the type they would like to last, especially this time of year.
The Stanners lost their third straight last Monday night, dropping a 68-61 decision to Xaverian of Brooklyn in the opening round of the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan playoffs at Christ the King.
Molloy’s season has been full of difficulties. They won three in a row, lost six, and won four of five. Since, they have suffered through another dip.
Against the Clippers, who Molloy had split with during the season, winning once in overtime and losing a nail biter at home, their lead guard, junior Russ Smith (10 points, seven turnovers), never found a rhythm offensively - the result of incessant double teams - and his teammates struggled, too. Ashton Pankey and Matt Grogan were the only other Stanners in double figures, finishing with 16 points apiece.
Molloy was within striking distance nevertheless until an 11-2 Xaverian run to end the third quarter put space between the two teams. Matt Troisi led the Clippers with 14 points, Jamel Fuentes added 13, Joe Ecock had 12 and Rashem King 11.
“They looked much better today,” Molloy Coach Jack Curran said. “They looked athletic, they all handled the ball well, they shot the ball well, they guarded, they rebounded. It was a tough matchup for us.”
The Stanners rallied late, behind a pair of Grogan 3-pointers, to get within six, but Pankey, the sophomore center, missed a bunny, Eslyn Hernandez shot an air ball and the Stanners committed an ill-advised turnover.
“Last four minutes, we played well,” Curran said. “That’s about it.”
“We ran our plays, but it didn’t go all the way through,” Grogan said. “They’re a tough team. You can’t underestimate them.”
The loss means Curran, stuck on 898 victories, will likely have to wait until next season to register win No. 900. Molloy will play Sunday against an opponent yet to be determined at Holy Cross in the city’s intersectional playoffs. However, two victories, with the second needing to be registered against one of the league’s five powers, may be out of reach.
“I’m really disappointed,” Grogan said. “We should’ve had the 900th victory already. It is tough. We wanted to get to 900 this year.”