CYP semifinals
-
- March
- 31
Tonight’s two semifinals of the CYP tournament couldn’t have been more different. First, the New York Panthers stormed past a Team Frenji, 92-66, in a game lacking defense. Then, the MetroHawks outslugged the Gauchos, 67-65 in OT, in a game that featured most hard fouls and shoving than you’ll see on one court.
Very entertaining night of basketball. I’m on the record as saying the CYP isn’t my favorite event. But I’m beginning to turn a little. It’s like going to the zoo. If I don’t go, I never feel like I miss anyway. But when I’m there, I thoroughly enjoy it.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of tonight’s two games:
New York Panthers 92, Frenji 66
When I finally found a parking spot and got into the gym, the Panthers were ahead by 10 late in the first quarter. Immediately, I was informed that Frenji actually had scored the first seven points of the game but went cold for a few minutes.
Then a few minutes turned into an entire quarter.
Frenji featured local stars Sherrod Wright, Daquan Brickhouse, Ralph Watts, and Jordan Lessane, plus a few studs from out of the area: 6-10 Hassan Whiteside of Patterson, N.C., Rashawn Storres of All Hallows, and Mike Buffalo of Wings Academy.
But Frenji got run off the court in the second quarter, falling into a 30-point halftime deficit against a quicker, more aggressive Panthers squad. Chaz Williams of Bishop Ford was brilliant running the point, looking like a kid playing toys as he distributed the ball throughout the offense.
Omari Lawrence, a St. John’s committ, had 17 points, as did J.J. Moore of Brentwood. Halil Kanacevic, a 6-8 forward from Curtis in Staten Island, added 16 points and Kevin Parrom had 12. The Panthers were so long and so athletic, dunking at will throughout the game. I don’t think Frenji could have done anything to stop the bleeding in the second quarter.
Not having Sean Kilpatrick really hurt Frenji. The White Plains grad headed to Cincinnati scored 28 points in Saturday’s win, a dominant effort from everyone I spoke to tonight. But Kilpatrick had to go back to school today at Notre Dame Prep and couldn’t participate last night. Would Frenji have won if he played? Probably not. But they sure wouldn’t have lost by 26.
MetroHawks 67, Gauchos 65, OT
What a crazy game. Between the physical play, hard fouls, the coaches screaming at the refs, the coaches screaming at the scorers table, and the sense that a brawl could break out any second, it was wild nightcap.
New Rochelle junior Antoine Mason was the hero. He had 22 points, including the go-ahead basket on a driving lay-up with 22.3 seconds left. Mason had 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, going toe-to-toe with Durand Scott, who’s headed to Miami.
The MetroHawks squandered a chance to win the game in regulation and then looked finish with a minute to go in overtime. But, despite trailing 65-60 with under a minute to go, the got a lay-up through traffic from Joel Wright, a fantastic 6-6 forward headed to Fordham University. Wright later came up with a steal as he dove for a loose ball at halfcourt and, from his behind, found Mason streaking up the court. Mason converted the lay-up through traffic (and a foul) to put them ahead 66-65.
Scott rescued the Gauchos in the final seconds of regulation. He pulled up and drained a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play with a hand in his face to tie it. He had 17 points. Watching Scott is a pleasure. He’s such a competitor and you could see how disgusted he was when the final buzzer sounded. He had the ball in his hands in the final seconds but couldn’t get a shot off.
The game, as I mentioned, was part boxing match, part basketball game. As a friend of mine said sitting next to me “You have to be a real man to want to go into the paint.” It couldn’t have been more true. Anyone who didn’t go strong to the rim paid for it. I’ve never seen so many players come out of a scrum for a loose ball holding as many noses, mouths, and eyes.
And the amazing thing was that these guys were immense. At point, the Gauchos had three kids on the floor 6-8 or bigger. One of them was 6-10 sophomore Al Azulphar of Greenwich. He’s got a thick body and might be one of the biggest high school players I’ve ever seen (Note: the biggest college I’ve ever seen in person was Glen Davis when he was at LSU, and the biggest pro was Shaq).
Mason hung with all of them, proving again that he’s a legitimate high Division I prospect. His body, too, has continued to develop. I was shocked by how big his arms and chest have gotten. He’s probably 6-3. Another inch or two and he’s going to be a major college player, especially since he proved he could handle the ball and finish around the rim.
The championship game between the MetroHawks and the New York Panthers will be at 7:30 on Tuesday at Our Lady of Mercy School in Port Chester. There was a decent crowd for tonight’s second game. I strong encourage that, if you’re around, to head over to the final. It’s well worth the five bucks.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 12:25 am by Kevin Devaney Jr..
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The CYP is a great gathering. Tons of talent and hard play. No doubt that there was no reps from St Johns there. Why would there? They give the coach a lifetime contract and he cant coach or recruit,but he has an excuse for everything , the kids are going to class( hopefully) and there’s been no arrests. Sickening whats going on at SJU. Former players at the CYP who would have gone to SJU include Kilpatrick and Truck. Norms got a better plan and it includes hoping a player each year gets hurt so theres an excuse to why the team stinks.
Kevin,
Thanks for writing about the CYP despite your aversion to it. Do you know of any other local players who played this year besides the ones you mentioned (Mason, Watts, Brickhouse, Kilpatrick, Lessane, Wright)?
Rileygirl,
I’m a big St Johns fan as well and I would have liked to see St Johns win more recently. I agree that Roberts has stuggled to get big time players to Queens, but I have to give him credit for some better than expected coaching jobs. This year winning 18 games without their injured best player was a good move in the right direction in the best league in America. Lawrence coming in next year is a top 100 recruit and should have an immediate impact. As far as Kilpatrick and Truck Bryant, to my understanding St Johns recruited both of those kids. Kilpatrick almost committed there actually. Truck chose Bob Huggins.
i know you can only do so much in the limited space at cyp -but certain players on frenji who think they are
division 1 or mid-major division 1 got a serious wake up call last night. some of the players looked so out of place. chazz williams destroyed them and made them look like little kids.
rileygirl:
it’s this simple – norm/st.john’s does not cheat – period. they are never going to get the big time recruits
(1 and done type players) because they are not paying them off. if you do not think this is a huge factor then you do not know how the process works. i think he has done an ok job considering the league he is in. i will say however that if they do not do some big things next season, i’m sure changes will be made….but i would bet he will land a job somewhere else. he can coach and is a class act – that does matter to some programs.
Simply put CYP exposes everybody at anytime on the court. Chaz was the best PG out there no question. His motor never stops and his craftiness is great. There is a reason why he’s going to Hoftsra. He most certainly could start for St Johns. Norm missed another recuit in his backyard. Hes better than Malik Booth now!!
As for FRENJI, they sorely missed Kilpatrick. A guy who can score whenever you need him to. Certain guys looked lost but the did compete in stretches. The 6’11 kid is a beast but the refs handcuffed him. But thats CYP.
They will be just as loaded as they always are for years to come. Its good to see the local stars battle together instead of against each other once in awhile.
Kev,
what is your take on joel wright and will he contribute at Fordham?
wake up call,
GREAT COMMENT!!!!!! I was thinking the same exact thing. If CYP exposes everybody then the Panthers has future lottery picks on their team!!!! They werent exposed!!! Talent is Westchester just not the same as last year that’s all. Last 2 Frenji teams were LOADED with D1 talent and this years not has very few and were young. They’ll be just fine in next years event.
Sherrod Wright looked over-matched and had the ball glued to his hand. Not a Big East level player. The better players for Frenji were from out-of-town. The big kid from NC, the forward from OSNA and Stores from All Hallows were the only one’s who looked like they belonged. Buffalo from Wings, by way of MV, looked ok in spurts. Overall just a down year for talent.
Chaz Williams was recruited by bigger programs. Hofstra started recruting him before anyone else did. I saw a piece on him where he said he chose Hoftsra because of this. He said he was a loyal person and felt he should be loyal to Hofstra. Very rare that kids will do this.
In terms of Sherrod, I just saw he visited George Mason. They want him very badly. I think that would be a great fit for him.
Its too bad the Gauchos didnt have all their players. They were missing Tevin Baskin, Tyreak Johnson, Trevon Hamlet, Sean Johnson, Doron Lamb, and Danny Jennings. The only two people who played on their aau team last year were Durand and James Stukes.
Refs were horrible in the 2nd game.