This is the second of three scouting reports for this week’s state semifinals up in Glens Falls. If you missed my look at Tuckahoe-Mechanicville, you can find it here.
No team has ever left Glens Falls with more state championship plaques than Mount Vernon’s nine, but the Knights face a program well versed in how to slay a giant. CBA upset defending state champ Newburgh two seasons ago, beating a loaded Half Hollow Hills West team along the way.
CBA and Mount Vernon have actually met two times previously in the state semifinals. Both were won by Mount Vernon, but not without CBA leaving the Knights with something to remember. The Brothers challenged Mount Vernon’s vaunted 2004 Federation champions, dictating the pace in a 52-49 thriller.
Here’s a look at the matchup, including thoughts from both coaches, which I posted after the scouting report.
SCOUTING REPORT
Class AA state semifinal
Mount Vernon (21-2) vs. Section 2’s CBA-Albany (21-2)
When: Saturday, 2:15 p.m.
Where: Glens Falls Civic Center
Key players: Mount Vernon – Isaiah Cousins (6-4), Sr., G; Randy Stephens (6-3), Sr., G/F; Jarrel Marshall (6-6), Sr., F; Qwadere Lovell (6-0), Sr., G. CBA – Joe Krong (6-4), Sr., G/F; Chaz Lott (6-0), Sr., G; Christian Leppanen (6-1), Sr., G; Nate Robinson (6-6), Jr., C; Shelal Cancer (6-1), Sr., F.
How they got here: After winning its seventh straight Section 1 title, Mount Vernon drew a bye into the regional finals where it routed Middletown 98-44. CBA edged Troy in a controversial Section 2 final. It then rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Utica Proctor 62-56 in the regional finals.
Outlook: Mount Vernon may hold the record for most NYSPHSAA state championships (nine), but CBA has rapidly become a Glens Falls staple. The teams met in the 2004 and 2006 state semifinals and CBA has advanced to the last four final fours. That includes its 2010 state championship victory over Newburgh, which, much like Mount Vernon, entered as a loaded defending state champ. This CBA team will try to avoid mistakes and prevent falling behind, according to coach Dave Doemel. The Brothers lack the Division I talent and depth of Mount Vernon, but they are tough, physical and steady. Krong, the team’s leading scorer, and Lott were key role players on the 2010 state championship team. Cancer’s older brother, Galal, is a freshman on Cornell. Robinson and 6-6 Greg Stire give CBA adequate size to compete against Mount Vernon’s front line. “We’re going to have to play them shot for shot and take advantage of our athleticism when we can,” Knights coach Bob Cimmino said.
Next up: The winner will meet either Section 5’s Aquinas or Section 8’s Baldwin Sunday at 3:15 p.m. at the Civic Center for the state championship.
A COACH’S TAKE
Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino on the matchup:
“This year has nothing to do with last year. We lost all of our starters. We have experience, but it’s another year, another group of players and a totally new identity.”
“They take care of the ball. They’re not going to hurt themselves with turnovers, so you’re going to have to play them shot for shot and take advantage of our athleticism when we can. We don’t want to lead the stats in turnovers. We want to take care of the ball.”
“We’ll have a lot of weapons. We’re practicing everything this week. If we see something’s not going right, we’ll change something defensively. If we can change the defensive tempo, we’ll make moves there.”
“We have good parts. We are deep, but that’s why they play the game. Anything can happen at any time. I’m well aware of that. We’re going to practice like it’s the last game we’re going to play and hope to move on.”
CBA coach Dave Doemel on Mount Vernon:
“They’re extremely quick and apply so much pressure to you. Coach always has the guys playing their game. I think they’re deep and talented and probably going to be the deepest team we’ve faced.”
“It’s going to be a situation of if we can handle their pressure and keep them from getting quick runs. They can score in bunches.”
”(Isaiah) Cousins is pretty darn good, but I think with coach Cimmino one of the things I’ve always been impressed by is his guys always play together and play unselfishly despite the fact that the are extremely talented. Even the most talented guy is willing to scrafice and step up and play.”
Doemel on CBA and how it must contend with Mount Vernon:
“We have to control the basketball. We can’t turn it over and have empty trips. That plays into the them getting out and going. We have to certainly hope to keep them off the glass so they don’t get second third or fourth opportunities. They score too well on the first try. We don’t need to give them extras.”
“Defensively, certainly, we have our hands full there with the different personel they have. But we have a certain amount of resiliency that our guys have shown. I’m hoping that resiliency will allow us to maintain a certain amount of competitiveness throughout the game. If they get on some huge runs and get out ahead of us, I think we’d be up against it.”
“You just have to accept the fact there are certain things those guys can do. You’re not going to stop it all the time. You just have to hope to contain it. I tell my kids, just stay with it and stay close. Hopefully, you can stay close and hopefully we can capitalize.”
“Joe Krong was on the state title team, Lott was on the team, Leppanen was on team but didn’t play. Krong and Lott were in our rotation. Joe is a four-year player and was a key guy during that time.”
“The other guys are kind of new, but they were there last year when Jamestown beat us in the semis. That was a tough one for us, a very difficult game that we lost in overtime. They’ve had a taste of being up there.”
“I imagine we’re going to have to play our bench. You better be able to match their intensity all game, so we’re going to have to play (the bench) or our guys are going to get tired.”
24 Comments
Even if Isaiah gets in foul trouble,I am very confident in randy penetrating and running the team.”time for #10,lets go knights”
CBA has taken over Bishop Maginn’s spot as the top recruiting team in the area.
JOSH,
AFTER READING THE COMMENTS FROM THE CBA COACH,HE SOUNDS LIKE,HIS BENCH IS NOT THAT GOOD,DO YOU HAVE ANY INFO ON THE CBA BENCH?
CBA’s Coach certainly understands MV & what makes the Knights the Better team. He’s got the Knights strong points down & seems to understand what his team needs to do. The most telling comment he made was, “I imagine we’re going to have to play our bench” You think? If this team doesn’t have depth, which it sounds like they don’t, MV should be FINE. MV needs to “run Em into the ground!” & NO hiccups like C-town S. I think the kids’ll come ready to play. Their won’t be a “snow day” to screw-up the schedule & make the kids wait 5 hours. I still think there’s people who think that CS played w/ the Knights WRONG the Knights played poorly or DOWN to CS’s level w/ POOR officiating. You saw what the Knights did to M-town again I hope they blow this CBA team out. But it sounds like certain upstate officials are partial to CBA. That Troy game sounded like a travesty. Go Knights!!!!
CBA is going to slow the game down to a crawl and have a FT shooting contest, if the refs let them. I think the game will be close for a qtr or so. MV will wear them down early and open it up.
CBA coach is very good and his kids will be prepared. They are not as talented as the team that beat NFA a cpl years ago but are talented and disciplined enough to make it interesting imo
you want info on the cba bench. lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll. Josh just gave you a ton of info on a high school basketball game and of course you and only you want more info. Very strange.
Iona. You have a new name. Bh. Lollllllllllll
Nitpick note…MV’s first state championship was at Rochester War Memorial,not Glens Falls…
haywood… As it says in the scouting report, Cancer (whose brother, Galal, was the star the last two years and now plays at Cornell) was recently moved out of the starting lineup and to the bench. Marini also used to start. It’s safe to say those are CBA’s top two bench guys. The coach mentioned one other player to me as well. I’d say CBA goes 8-deep, and will go to a ninth. That’s pretty normal in HS basketball.
JOSH,
THANK YOU,I MUST HAVE OVERLOOKED THAT,TRYIN TO GET BOATS READY FOR THE SPRING.
It’s going to be a great game. I have follower CBA all season, seen them play 8 times. Great coach.
Players infrequently make mistakes and never become discouraged or give up when down. Very disciplined always work for the best shot. Defenses usually break down and they get good looks.
Remember CBA Albany is an all male JROTC program.
They might not have the athletes that Mount Vernon has, but I have seen CBA beat many teams with more skilled athletes that they have.
BBPLAYER 72,
THANKS FOR SHARING,AND PLEASE COME BACK ,AFTER THE GAME IS PLAYED AND SHARE YOUR OPINION
Seems that BBaller72 is sayin the Jr JarHeads aren’t as talented but somehow Work Harder, are in better condition & have a higher Bball IQ. I hope MV buries you’re private all boy school, because you don’t have a clue what’s comin to the Falls & yes please join us after the game, but not betwren 10-11:30am Sun we’ll be at Our Coach’s Induction Ceremony For the NY Hoop HOF!!!!
Any players on Mount Vernon as good as Earl Tatum, Gus Williams, Ben Gordon, Rudy Hackett ect.
PEBO, is that you? rofl
BBPLAYER 72,
PLAYERS LIKE THAT ON 1 TEAM ONLY COMES AROUND
ONCE IN A WHILE,SAYING THAT MV HAS SOME PLAYERS
grow up reality check. your immaturity is showing big time
Appropriate name. It reflects both your post & your hygene. You should be blogging elsewhere. Downstate NY is Pro-Knights. I gotta go….the stench comin off the last post is making me want to vomit! LLLOOOLLL
you proved my point exactly. downstate is not all pro knights.
Hey nothinbuthotair or whoever you are. Stop harassing winners. You’re that kid that got picked last foe kickball in 3rd grade. I see you over there all frustrated & losing at everything ALL the time. It makes me chuckle how pathetic a Human can be. What a waste of humanity. Don’t you have something better to do. Oh that’s right….NO you don’t. Because trying to make yourself feel better by bothering Winners is what you do…. Pathetic
Why is it time Warner shows all the championship games live (for football as well) but cablevision can not, with a high school sports network?
Well my hat is off the MV in the AA win today at the Falls over CBA Albany. The better team won.
1st quarter CBA 10 MV 7
2nd quarter CBA 17 MV 23
3rd quarter CBA 30 MV 38
with 6 minutes left CBA 32 MV 43
Then things got ugly for CBA. Instead of CBA coming back as had hoped and expected, MV ran away with the game it winning by 26. MV 68 – CBA 42. Congrats.
Interesting statistic CBA out rebounded MV 37 to 35
CBA present enrollment 350 students 6th grad thru 12. Thats about 55 boys per grade.. What is class enrollment like at Mount Vernon?
BB Player 72, that enrollment number is a skewed stat. Most of the senior high classes are around 80 students, and current enrollment is about 390, the new administration has done a great job of bringing in kids.
That said, this CBA team was not nearly as good as the past two years, they played above their skill level the entire year, mostly because of Doemel. I thought they had a really solid chance when they cut it to 33-30, but they tried to play the transition game and got beat. I felt like CBA won the half court game, they got burned badly in transition though.
A great season though for these kids, they earned all of it. Gotta wonder if this will be Doemel’s last season as head coach, he’s been getting Groelz ready for the job and with his recent health scare I image he’s thinking of hanging it up.
Also, Reality Check, your lack of respect for these kids is disgraceful. “Jr Jarheads” is both disrespectful to our school, and to the MANY CBA alumni who have served in the armed forces (usually about 25% of every class, sometimes more). No one from our school came on here to disrespect MV, in fact quite the opposite, we have a great admiration for the Knights and their coach who have had our number for the past few years.
[...] AA: Mount Vernon Class A: Tappan Zee Class C: [...]