Just a terrific, much-needed comeback win tonight by New Rochelle, which beat arguably one of the better teams in the state. It’s a game that could turn the Huguenots’ season around. Frankly, after watching them last week against Iona Prep, I wasn’t sure where they were headed. Now, I could see them bringing home the gold ball if they maintain this level of play. (Remember: St. Mary’s is very, very good, with two high-major Division I prospects.)
It shows you how much emotion and desire can carry a team to another level. Joe Clarke guaranteed to me last week that New Ro would turn its season around after a 1-4 start. And did it ever.
Tonight’s results set up one of the best Slam Dunk doubleheaders in recent years on Sunday night. Arguably, the area’s top two girls teams and two of the top five boys programs will square off.
WHITE PLAINS — When New Rochelle coach Rasaun Young announced last week that his team would practice on Christmas Eve, he heard a few groans. They were quickly silenced by senior Terrence Holden.
“We’re 1-4,” Holden said. “Of course we’re having practice.”
“That was our mentality all week,” senior Joe Clarke said. “We didn’t even care if we had to practice on Christmas Day.”
Seeking a spark, the Huguenots found it tonight at the County Center. Clarke, a 6-foot-3 senior, scored 12 points in a frantic final 5:13 to key a 71-64 upset victory over St. Mary’s of Manhasset in the semifinals of the Slam Dunk.
Clarke had guaranteed New Rochelle’s fortunes would change after last Saturday’s overtime loss to rival Iona Prep. He delivered with 29 points and 11 rebounds against one of Long Island’s top teams.
“This is the spark for our season,” Clarke said afterward. “We’re just going to continue to work hard and get wins. We’re on our way.”
The Huguenots (2-4) will continue their quest Sunday at the County Center when they meet 8-1 Stepinac at 7 for the championship. Saturday’s slate was pushed to Sunday because of inclement weather in the forecast.
Their immediate future still looked bleak after a stormy first half ended with St. Mary’s ahead 42-32. But Clarke and a pair of 3-pointers by Antoine Lewis sent New Rochelle on a 16-4 run to start the third quarter. A Khalil Edney basket gave them a 48-46 lead.
The teams traded leads into the fourth quarter. Six-foot-10 sophomore Jessie Govan (24 points, 10 rebounds) and freshman Devonte Green — the younger brother of San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green — gave the Gaels a 60-56 edge with 4:43 to go. But two baskets by Clarke tied it and Edney put the Huguenots ahead for good on a three-point play with 3:51 remaining. He finished with 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The star quarterback on New Rochelle’s Class AA state champions said his team channeled the intensity it found in last week’s 15-point comeback that sent the Iona Prep game into overtime. They forced St. Mary’s into 22 turnovers.
“We knew we had the potential to play a full game like that,” Edney said. “That was the same intensity we had when we were down 10 at halftime.
“This can definitely turn our season around.”
Photos courtesy of Matthew Brown of The Journal News. Find the complete gallery by clicking here.
33 Comments
Nice Job by NewRo. They surprised alot of people tonight. Clarke put his team on his Back & carried them to victory. Coach Young finally realized that Edney Needs to START & put him on the court at the beginning of the 2nd Half. I watched the Thin QB Edney, Put a Body on 6’10” Soph Jessie Govan in CrunchTime & Freshman Sensation Devonte Green started to show “kinks in the armor” late in the Game. It very well could be a turning point for the Huguenots, but let’s see if they can “finish the deal” w/ a Win Sun. vs Stepinac
GREAT WIN ,NOW FINISH,STEPINAC IS TOUGH.
I THINK STEPINAC IS BETTER THAN IONA PREP.
STEPINAC 72 NEW RO 69
NEW RO CAN WIN IF THE CONTROL THE BOARDS
Iona beat New Rochelle last week- Stepinac should win easily- New ro does not have the guards to make it a game
Chsaa,
I think it will be a good game. New Ro has some big, strong football players and good athletes – they can go up and down with step. Step has better guards. A key for step is Murray staying out of foul trouble on Clarke. Murray did a great job last year on one of st rays bigs who was a big time player
2-4? New Rochelle? Losing to Iona Prep? When was the last time New Rochelle got off to such a bad start? Coaching change has done nothing to enhance this program…. this is what happens when the “community” gets to pick and choose who stays and who goes.
They have joe Clark who can carry them. Step/new ro can go either way. New ro beat a good st Mary’s team. They are better then people say
Step wins this one 69-60..i think st marys crushes a bad mahopac team. Happy new year
salt
Iona beat New Rochelle fair and square- Iona has also beaten St. Raymonds- They let a bad one get away to Somers without their starting PG Tom Capuano who is a soph. It was no fluke that iona beat New Rochelle
Reality Check should change her name to CHSAA HATER?
Step fan
Great job by Stepinac to represent the CHSAA after the Iona debacle on Thursday- At least Iona has beaten Section 1 WP and NR-
wood I missed you last night. Was sitting where you should have been!
New Ro will be in this game. They will probably lose by 5-8 pts but they will be in there. Step will not keep them off the boards. But the guard depth will get the best of new ro.
@ Salt –
New Rochelle HS record reflects a very competitive early schedule. Two of the loses came from an out of state tournament in Kentucky and an obviously motivated Iona-Prep squad. They just beat St. Mary’s and clearly are beginning to find their rhythm.
You also have to be mindful that many of their key players did not have the advantage of a basketball pre-season and the obvious pre-pre-season that most elite HS teams participate in through their affiliated AAU programs, etc..
I think NR will be fine and will be the second best team in section one and the NR vs MV games will be competitive
Hey Step Fan
I got no prob w/ Real Deal chsaa’s like CTK & Loughlin. They GET IT. They’re BigTime Programs that deserve respect. They don’t lower themselves to passing along unsubstantiated rumors. I hope MV’s Freshman & JV teams teach your beloved boys a lesson tomorrow. Then I hope you varsity loses. Also CTK & Loughlin will wipe the floor w/ your varsity. Gotta go Kevin Jones is on YES playing the Nets & Oklahoma & Isaiah Cousins are on FoxSports. BigTime Hoops you Hater!
Reality check or Mrs.CHSAA hater..have fun getting your nails painted and your perm done 2morow afternoon cause when the clock strikes 7 your big booty is mine you sweet little mount vernon groupy
What a Low Life. Surprised Josh let’s garbage like StepFan on the blog. Real Garbage Pail. I know how you are
StepFan: You going to hang w/ the other “wash women” at house of sports & wonder what’s going on at 100 Cali after the game?
The Knights’ faithful are all family. It’s probably a Lil complicated for you to understand StepFan.
I imagine StepFan to be one of those kids who doesn’t turn the phone down in a Movie. You know the kind that’ll take a call & talk while others are trying to watch the Film. Just rude, uncultured & ill mannered. A real “Class Act”
As a Stepinac / CHSAA fan, I really hope Step Fan doesn’t sterotype all of us, his foolish comments are starting to get absurd, stop beginning debates that aren’t necessary to bring up. Next time you walk into the Stepinac gym look left and read the sign underneath the thousand point club, because the representation you give on this blog is disrespectful, beginning with your spelling and grammar. Represent stepinac with class.
As for this game tomorrow, it will definitely be a tough game and I believe that New Ro will be able to play, but the depth of Stepinac will play a huge roll. I believe James Decker is a highly underlooked player for Stepinac (#15), he played a major part in the Iona game with all the little things he did, and if he could find his rhythm, its another deadly asset for Stepinac.
HRs,
MY FAULT,I WORKED LATE,I WILL CATCH YOU,I HOPE YOU DIDN’T STARVE,LLLLLLOOOOOLLLLL
Stepfan is just a bad representation of stepinac and reality check you are no better with your comments. You are feeding right into it and you are a horrible representation for mvernon. Both of you should be taken off this forum.
Hey Class
it’s Mt. Vernon. Un Er Stan?
This is a HS basketball blog right? Give StepFan and Reality a break you guys. They are just joking around. This is not book of the month debate. I think they are funny and I look forward to reading their comments NOT a shout out to how GOOD Decker is at Step…#15…why don’t you put his phone number in so we can call him after the game? Wow! Self serving at best. You guys CLASS,UNKNOWN and the others are the reason people don’t like CHSAA/Stepinac NOT StepFan..you think your better than people. Them guys are funny guys. You guys are not. Happy News Year
Wood… I never starve! Got to go to city with kids today so won’t make it today. Hoping to get to West Point next week. Well hang then!
I will continue to police this blog, shining a light on the Jealous who assail the Greatest Athletic Team in a Sect.1 Sport over the past 50 yrs. I’m glad some get it. The others have much to learn
Reality check- steps frosh and jv both beat my Vernon today. Lesson learned?
Chsaa-sect1
doesn’t mean a thing. I’m positive MV’s Varsity would run stepinac out the gym, after watching tonite’s final. The Boys final should have been the early game, this way both teams could have watched the Ossining Irvington Girls Final. The Girls shot & executed at such a higher level it was difficult to watch the sloppy play & horrible shooting in the boys final.
CHSAA,
A LOT OF THOSE KIDS WILL BE MUCH BETTER ONCE THEY GET MORE MATURE,AND GROW MENTALLY,1-2 YEARS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE,WITH THE GREAT COACHING IN THE MV SYSTEM
I know it means nothing! But don’t say u hope we get taught a lesson and then when you lose both games it means nothing. If it means nothing the. Whyd u bring it up? Ill be the first to tell you those are developmental levels and its all about the varsity, but you were the one who brought it up.
I was Responding to StepFan. I was hoping the youngsters on MV’s developmental would beat stepinac because the varsity doesn’t have the opportunity. Please try to get a game w/ MV’s varsity, so we could settle things. I think MV still has a game to schedule. Thing is, I’m sure a Very Good Team will get it. I’d liike to see stepinac get it, but it’ll probably go to a Very Good team like a CTK, Boys&Girls, St Anthony NJ, etc… You catch my drift?
U sound angry about your loses today- catch my drift?
Reality,
Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em. You shouldve folded last night. Mv has a great basketball program and no one should take away from them. All real basketball fans respect mv. I understand some of step fans comments were ridiculous – multiple other stepinac fans came on here, including myself, to say they were ridiculous. But your responses have been almost as ridiculous. Let’s just talk basketball and leaving the belittling to not serious fans. Anyone who has seen mv and step play this years can see it would be a good game with an exciting up and down tempo. Step plays a big time Hayes team this week that should be a very good game for any any local fans wanting to check out another top city team – Hayes beat loughlin earlier this year.
Lol at Clarke licking his chops on the way to the Bastille.