CHSAA Freshmen Quarterfinals
BROOKLYN, NY – The future of NYC varsity high school basketball was on display as the CHSAA Freshmen Quarterfinals took place on Saturday at Xaverian H.S. If these four games are indicative of New York’s talent pool, the Mecca legacy is in safe hands.
Xaverian advances past All Hallows, 85 – 60
The Clippers took the lead and never gave it back to the Gaels as Jaden Pena and Nicholas Folks helped give Xaverian a 36 – 26 halftime lead. Feisty point guard Joseph Colon and Derrick Williams helped keep All Hallows deficit respectable but, in the end, Xaverian had too many weapons.
Pena was the high scorer for Xaverian with 21 points while Colon paced All Hallows with 19 points.
St. Raymond expels Cardinal Hayes, 87 – 65
The Ravens, who are considered one of the top freshmen teams, immediately lived up to the hype as they sprinted ahead of the Cardinals 11 – 0 before Hayes knew what hit them. With former University of Dayton star Scoochie Smith checking out the game, his 5’11” younger brother Malachi Smith along with Dior Davis scorched Hayes in the first half. Down 42 – 24 at the start of the third quarter, the Cardinals were unable to recover.
Smith led St. Ray’s with 23 points while Edwin Santiago scored 19 points for Cardinal Hayes.
St. Francis Preps eliminates Monsignor Scanlan, 65 - 58
Scanlan had the Terriers on its heels during the first half of the game as Brandon Rose and Jalen Dela Cruz lit them up. In a 35 – 22 hole to begin the third quarter, St. Francis Prep rallied as balanced scoring led by Brandon Marks cut help the Crusaders lead to a mere four points to start the final quarter. The tandem of Todd Rochelle and Jeremy Montrose would finally give the Terriers the lead and the win.
Rochelle was the high man for St. Francis Prep with 15 points. Rose scored a game high 20 points for Scanlan.
Christ the King takes out Molloy, 61 – 49
Archbishop Molloy beat Christ the King on both occasions during the regular season, but the playoffs would be the first time the Royals were fully loaded. Even with the addition of highly touted freshman Sterling Jones and gridiron star Noah Boden, beating the Stanners was no cake walk. At the half, Molloy led 27 – 24 off an inspired first half performance by Chima Obayi.
In the second half, Christ the King made a move as Molloy tried and failed to keep pace with Jones who seemed to pierce the Stanners defense almost every time down the court. Having given up their lead early in the 4th quarter, turnovers began to plaque Molloy as their deficit and desperation grew.
Jones led Christ the King with an event high 25 points. Obayi netted 20 points for Molloy.
BONUS:CHSAA Quarterfinal Standout Performers
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