Sometimes, in basketball, the stat sheet lies. Other times, it can be chapter and verse about what you just saw.
These last two games were the latter. Stepinac won its second Slam Dunk in three years because its defensive pressure created havoc its opponents couldn’t handle. The Crusaders forced 54 turnovers. In fact, the backcourt’s speed and quickness created so many problems for Mahopac and New Rochelle that those teams outrebounded Stepinac by a combined 19 rebounds and still attempted 21 fewer field goals. That’s almost impossible.
New Rochelle ramped up its pressure in the fourth quarter, as it had in comebacks against Iona Prep and St. Mary’s in the last two games. Stepinac didn’t fold. Instead, it turned the ball over to Josh James, who earned his MVP hardware as much for what he didn’t do – panic – as for what he did.
WHITE PLAINS Like it had in consecutive fourth quarter comebacks, New Rochelle stepped forward with pressure Sunday night at the Slam Dunk. The Huguenots came forward in a wave of arms and legs, bringing a defense designed to squeeze Stepinac into submission. Instead, the Crusaders handed the ball to perhaps the county’s surest hands on the floor of Westchester’s basketball mecca.
Stepinac was confronted with a few skittish moments, but senior Josh James helped secure a 60-50 victory against New Rochelle in the championship at the County Center. His MVP effort included 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
It also proved just as noteworthy for what he avoided: Turnovers.
“I feel like every game the fourth quarter is my time,” said the Monmouth-bound guard. “As a leader, you want to take over and be in control at that point and that’s what I did tonight.”
New Rochelle trimmed Stepinac’s lead to as little as a point on senior Benny Bracey’s basket with a just over two minutes remaining. The Crusaders (9-1) had gone cold in the fourth quarter until senior Andrew Murray (No. 22, pictured right) sent a charge through his team’s bench.
He drove baseline for a layup as the shot clock ticked down to give Stepinac a 54-49 lead.
“That was definitely it,” said Murray, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. “I knew that would bring my team up and help us push through to get the win.”
The basket dropped with 1:18 left and highlighted a 10-1 closing surge.
Stepinac received an early offensive boost from junior Naim Thomas (pictured, at top), who scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half. He also dished to Boz Bernstein for a 3-pointer at the buzzer that lifted the Crusaders to a 31-29 halftime lead. They never trailed again.
“I was focused – real focused,” said Thomas, who shot 8 for 14 and hit three 3’s. “I came into this game knowing I had to be a slasher and a scorer.”
Senior Joe Clarke fouled out in the final minute but not before scoring 22 points and grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds for New Rochelle (2-5). His team actually finished with a 35-27 edge on the glass but succumbed to Stepinac’s quickness, which forced 26 turnovers.
The Crusaders caused 54 turnovers in two games to win the Slam Dunk for the second time in three years.
Stepinac will host league favorite Cardinal Hayes in a Friday night triple header looking to avenge its only loss. It is already one win shy of last season’s total.
“Last year was the backbone to build our team up for this year,” Murray said. “We’re so happy that we’re doing this going into the New Year. We just have to keep it up and keep practicing hard.”
CONSOLATION GAME
Mahopac 66, St. Mary’s of Manhasset 59
Disappointed and a little embarrassed after Friday night’s loss to Stepinac, Mahopac returned to the County Center Sunday to face arguably to most talented team on its schedule. Rather than wait another game to hit the reset button after a slow start, the Indians started their second half push a game early.
Brendan Hynes, Ryan Simone and Mike Simone all scored in double figures as Mahopac upset Long Island power St. Mary’s of Manhasset 66-59 in Sunday’s boys consolation game at the Slam Dunk. The Indians shot 51.2 percent from the field and protected the ball better, committing 13 fewer turnovers than they did Friday.
“The three teams we lost to were pretty good teams and we knew we had another good opponent today,” said Hynes, a senior guard, who had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. “People had started to doubt us with our record. We just wanted to come here and prove we were a good basketball team.”
Mahopac (3-3) actually held the edge over St. Mary’s from the second quarter on, opening up a 13-point lead. It was quickly paired down to two with over six minutes remaining, but the Indians didn’t fold. Dan Tully hit a key 3-pointer during a strong closing stretch.
Ryan Simone finished with 18 points and eight rebounds. His brother, Mike, added 14 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Lenahan had eight assists.
“I think they were a little disappointed in their effort the other night,” Mahopac coach Kevin Downes said. “I thought we had opportunities and chances the other night and it got away from us. We didn’t really have any rhythm. The kids took it upon themselves to say, hey, we’re better than we played and they came out and showed that.”
St. Mary’s 6-foot-10 center Jessie Govan led all players with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Freshman guard Devonte Green had 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, but he shot 5 for 23.
47 Comments
The Boys Final should have been played 1st. Then Both teams could’ve watched a well played final. The Ossining Irvington Game was such a better played game. The Boys Final was Sloppy & Loaded w/ Poor Shooting, too many turnovers & bad play. The Girls played at a Much Higher Level. Murray won it for stepinac at the end. He impressed me tonight
Both teams shot over 40 percent. They combined for 40 turnovers. Neither number was really all that out of the ordinary. In fact, the shooting was above average for a County Center game.
Surprising, 40% shooting isn’t very good after watching Chong right before. How many lay-ups were missed? Especially by NewRo? Clarke’s tech. Was Bad. He fouls out in crunchtime because of it. Eventhough his stats look OK he never really got going, compared to the St Mary game. The Girls Tourney was Loaded this weekend w/ Ossining, Luhi, St. Ants & Irvington. That’s a bigtime line-up. You saw those games I only caught the 2nd half if tonite’s girls final & was very impressed.
Reality,
Are your first two posts your attempt not to give credit where credit is due? If so, that was quite feeble buddy. If you didn’t notice, Josh’s factual post blew your comments out of the water. Both teams shot over 40%, which josh mentioned was above average for the county center. 26 TOs for new Ro – that was steps gameplan and has been all year to trap, push the tempo and play up and down. 14 TOs for step isn’t bad consider the tempo of the game. Of course all HS teams that play up and down have a few bad possessions a game.
If you gripe about step winning is no player dominated the game like Chong dominates the girls game, then you haven’t been following basketball around here. I can’t remember there being a AA boys player that dominated like Ching has dominated around here in a long, long time. Not Kevin jones, not Jabari hinds, not Jonathan Mitchell.
I think new Ro played a tough game and should be commended. They played strong and hung the whole game. With more games under their belt new Ro could make some noise in AA.
I was at the games last night and watched the last two (ossining and stepinac). I thought soniya played excellent! the rest of the girls on the court weren’t even close to her level. there were a lot of turnovers in the girls game but it took nothing away from the quality of the game. in terms of the stepinac game, I feel people are not giving stepinac credit for being one of the better teams in the area. a lot of people thought New ro would win based on their performance against st. Mary’s. now they win and people say they were lack luster. maybe it was the fact they forced New ro into turning the ball over more than any one else did. stepinac only had 14 turnovers!
Reality Check,
Stop playing video games where your team shoots 75%. You probably never played on a varsity hs basketball team. As a female of course you will like to watch the womens game but in case you did not know this is a boys hs blog.
Any comments about Stepinac frosh and JV beating Mount V yesterday? New Yearrs resolution for Reality Check : stop hating on CHSAA..
2-5? When was the last time New Rochelle was 2-5? The good news is, they have nowhere to go but up. The community wanted a new coach because they thought New Rochelle should be as good as Mt. Vernon. LOL. Now the standards are so low that people are commending New Rochelle for only losing to Stepinac by 10??!!!!
And New Ro is farrrrr from being able to compete with Mt. Vernon right now.
Anyone else think them referees were pro Stepinac? Man a lot of charges and techs? All against New Ro? We’re these guys hired by Stepinac? Just asking. Plus Stepinac coach yelled at them all night. He is not a nice guy.
Yes LeekeWatts, the refs WERE hired by Stepinac. That is allowed in this type of game. In fact they all had sons on the Stepinac team. Maybe you should just admit that Stepinac was the superior team and their defense created those charges. And the tech was for taunting. That’s a tech or ejection in any sport. Get a life.
New Ro,
I obviously didn’t see new Ro play in KY, but I think you have to give their team some time. 3 major contributors have been playing football for 4 months – Clarke, Holden and edney. NR is athletic and strong, they should improve as the season progresses. 2-5 is fixable with a team playing a strong schedule early.
THE 2 TEAMS THAT NEW RO LOST TO IN KENTUCKY ARE A COMBINED 26-1
Another point is that teams to the mid-west and west seem to get more games in then we do. A team could be 15-0 over there while we get through our 4th and 5th games.
Section 1 needs to leave the Westchester bubble and realize that the CHSAA is a much better league. You can’t even compare the 2 leagues. Mount Vernon would be able to play with the CHSAA teams when they had the loaded teams from the past. That’s it! Stepinac dominates both Mahopac and New Ro. Bishop Laughlin smacked Mount Vernon by 20+. Iona collapsed at the end and Somers hit some ridiculous shots. If they played 9 more times Iona would win all 9. Between Stepinac and Iona you have 4-5 D1 players. I think that’s more than all the section 1 teams combined have!!!
I’m not sold on stepinac, but y’all can keep annointing them. If you read my comments you’ll notice I don’t hate on the Very Good chsa teams. Over the last few years CTK, Loughlin, St Rays & All Hollows have all played well against the Knights. I guess I’m not a StepFan because of StepFan Period. When she gets together w/ the other “wash women” at HOS & make-up false rumors about a Hall of Fame Coach & a program that changes lives, it taints my opinion of the program. 2nd loss coming up in the Hayes re-match. Oh year, I thought the final was sloppy. Clarke didn’t play at the same level as he did on Fri. & Edney never got going. Good day Y’All & Happy New Yr
I’m with reality check, when one thinks of great CHSAA teams, no one thinks of Iona or Stepinac. Talent wise, this in not a great mt Vernon team but I love how the haters come out. How many teams have one more fed titles then mt Vernon? Lets whip out some more JV and freshman scores…...
CHSAA>Section 1
CHSSA is clearly a better league on the whole than Section 1, but there are teams that can compete with them and not be outclassed..
But When you say that Iona and Step have 4-5 D 1 Players, think you may be confusing great high school players with the next level. Josh and Matt Ryan are the only 2 D 1 Players..
Section 1\ CHSAA Survivor Series should get going. Classifications play teams with same rank down the board next season on. Of course many Section 1 Teams will miss out on a win though :/.
I went to Stepinac yesterday with my boy whose son plays for Mt. Vernon’s Freshman team. We stayed to watch the JV game as well. I was extremely surprised at how the lower level teams of Mt. Vernon were totally dismantled by the Stepinac teams. I guess it’s about the program, not just the Varsity. The Stepinac Freshman team had 2 good guards who pretty much did what they wanted against Mt. Vernon. In the JV game, Stepinac had a guard wearing a head-band who destroyed every player Mt. Vernon sent his way. Bob Cimino was in attendence to see what I saw… Total Domination. He has some work to do.
Chess…you are travel teams ..really!!!..what don’t uou understand about that …you recruit..you pay money ..YOU should be better then public schools it would be a disgrace if you weren’t….period!!...gheez what don’t you people understand about that ..play in your league with other travel /club teams and public schools will do their thing !!!!
Bawler…..get a life. Your comments are so old and boring. Did you ever play hs basketball? Ask the kids on mahopac what they want to do, play stepinac or go play a bad public school team. Same goes with albertus, ask the TZ’s and pearl rivers who they want to play? They will tell you AM and stepinac. Why b/c kids want to compete and play good teams. You sound like a parent who always makes excuses for everything. Grow up. Public schools recruit also and we all have examples.
If you can read …read the posts on here ..
We don’t mind playing anyone…but all I here is we aren’t good enough…it may be true ..but fact is ..we don’t recruit…we don’t gave ins with AAU teams the funnel kids to certain schools ..that’s s fact ….99% of public school kids grow up in one neighborhood …private schools cone from different cities. Different states ..and sometimes different countries
For the most part you don’t have to play them, except for Kennedy in westchester and albertus in rockland. Besides those 2 schools it is your choice So if you choose to play them don’t complain, you argument is old and boring.
OldheadHoops – How don’t you see 4 D1 players? You don’t think Niam Thomas and Demarcus Miller are D1 prospects? So with Josh James and Matt Ryan that would be 4 D1 players. I also think that kid Walter King can make a lot of noise if he grows. I have see him play some games where he is the best player on the court.
Bawler – of course the CHSAA recruits! But that’s why we are better! People who think these ChSAA teams are overrated and teams like Mahopac can hang with them are dumb! Also don’t think that public schools don’t recruit! Look at Demello. All you need is an address and you can play anywhere!
Bawler..most kids/familys in mahopac WISH that Stepinac or Iona or Fordham Prep offered them an option of attending their catholic school..they would go in a second..the fact is coaches donot recruit up there because there is a very low talent pool…there is not one kid on that team that could crack either stepinac or iona perps line up..in basketball..you said u grew up in yonkers..if you did you would know CHSAA basketball is the best league u can play in..period..not every kid on step or iona goes for free if any do..the catholic religion teaches to help the needy and if a kid wants a catholic education and he cant afford it…it is in our faith that we provide him this..if ge can shoot and dribble even better…
You pick 1 kid ..I’ll pick 100 …get serious…I never said private wasn’t better ..just the opposite..but since you recruitv and give “scholarships ”. You should be better !
Its my faith also ..the point I’ve been making is that private schools have an advantage…they do ..cut and dry …not complaining..not jealous..not anything…its just not fair to compare..that’s been my whole argument…that’s it..step is better then mMahopac..they proved it ..they should be ..apple’s and oranges
Step fan ..Taps/Iaconne
Hey…happy new year ..even to you step fan
Let’s not give Devonte Green any pub up here in Westchester. The younger brother of Danny Green has been re-classified twice. He should be a Junior and not a Freshman. Older brother Danny re-classified once and made it to the NBA. Lil bro did it twice (once in 7th grade & once in 8th). So, that’s what some people think, get “left back” so you can play against younger kids and make it to the League. Problem is, most don’t make it to the NBA and just spent extra time in elementary school for nothing.
Didn’t impress me ..step guard and Kingston guards much better
Old head,
James is a signed D1 player, Ryan is a near lock. I think naim Thomas could definitely be a D1 guard and Demarcus miller as well. That’s 4.
Gentleman, the whole public/private debate is old and boring. Yes, private schools can attract kids from all over. So do the top public schools. If a public school is strong enough to compete with a good private school like mahopac vs step or mv vs loughlin, then you can’t be complaining about advantages.
Bawler,
Realize you don’t see the mv fans aren’t complaining about the advantages loughlin had. Loughlin actually does recruit kids and has at least 2 big time players. So as a mahopac fan you should stop whining.
TIME TO TURN THE PAGE;
SECOND PHASE OF THE SEASON WILL PROVE WHO IS STARTING TO HELP AND WHO WILL BE A FACTOR IN THE PLAYOFFS,GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY 2013
NOT HELP THE WORD IS “JELL”
According to rivals Matt Ryan has been offered by fordham of the a 10 andprinceton. George mason is also recruiting him
Bawler you might have more luck explaining the advantages of offering scholarships & the “pay to play” debate w/ Lutheran & Episcopal educated.. The reason Mt Vernon is so remarkable is that they compete w/ all comers & they don’t have anything to offer the kids other than hard workk, a fiercly loyal family of coaches & supporters and of course the LEGEND that comes with what’s printed on the front of their jerseys. Truly Remarkable. Can’t wait til West Point on Sunday Happy 2013 Y’all
REALITY CHECK,
I AGREE,AND THE SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP AT THE HIGH SCHOOL,WHERE MOSTLY ALL PAST PLAYERS STOP IN AND SAY HELLO OR HELP WITH THE CAMP,TRULY A FAMILY
Haywood
The Program on whole is quite remarkable. Jr Knights sit watching practice & possibly get a “Rep” in a lay-up line. You can see the lightbulb go off in their heads. When players walk upstairs to his locker w/ Gordon’s Picture in his Bulls Jersey above. Practice at Mt Vernon is Special I’m sure. Supossedly theirs a documentary about it, called “Knighthood” I love the references to the program nationally when Jabarie or Isaiah step on the court. But most recently, Sherrod Wright’s Game winner on SportsCenter was tremendous. He’s had 2 walk-off shots at George Mason. Josh put the YouTube’s up on Twitter. Did you see them? Absolutely Insane Geat Videos. He!s a fantastic player. He’ll definitely play professionally.
REALITY CHECK,
I SAW BOTH SHOTS AND I AGREE,SHERROD HAS GOTTEN BETTER EVERY YEAR,I HOPE THEY MAKE THE “THE BIG DANCE”THIS YEAR,THE PROGRAM IS SO RICH WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TEACH THE YOUTH AND DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY,NO SHORT CUTS,HARD WORK AND EDUCATION.
Bawler
Sect1 better hope that Kennedy Catholic doesn’t go to the Chsaa. If they do I predict that within 3 to 5 years they will be pulling major talent in many sports away from the surrounding public schools. Sect1 had enjoyed a monopoly in the Northern Westchester area and has gotten away with many subpar football and basketball programs because of it. Kennedy going to the Chsaa will change everything.
They Do work hard on their basketball IQ’s too bad they can’t include it in their transcripts. But any college basketball coach worth his salt, knows he’s getting a student of the game w/ a knight.
Crusaders,
Is Kennedy going to the chsaa or talking about it?
Yes, Al Morales and Kennedy want to go into the Chsaa.
Not happening
Kennedy seems to have quietly made a real commitment to their sports program…renovated gymnasium, fairly new baseball field, new bball coach ( with the ability to bring in players)...going to the Chsaa is the next step.
Good for Kennedy. I’m not sure the chsaa would want them though…that would be a super long drive for a lot of chsaa teams. Kennedy could fit in nicely in the A division for basketball with some local tams like Salesian and blessed sacrament in new Ro and spell man and scanlon in the Bronx. St Agnes, Xavier and lasalle are in manhattan in the A. Fordham could and should be a good rival with Kennedy…and it seems that Fordham should drop back down to the A and all hallows should move back up to the AA. But football would be a mess with only spellman in the Bronx as Kennedy’s closest geographic rival in the A. Kennedy would end up going to staten island to play st peters, long island to play st John the baptist, brooklyn to play Bishop ford and brooklyn to play Xavier because Xavier which is in manhattan seems to play their home games in brooklyn, queens to play Christ the king. Baseball would probably be better for kennedy since they have a good program and there are lots of teams in the Bronx,manhattan, westchester league that play baseball – st rays, all hallows, mount, fordham, etc.
Is Devonte Green going to be eligible to play as a 20 year old h.s. senior against 17-18 year old kids who’ve taken care of their academics appropriately? Is this their reward? Are their any real eligibility guidelines or you can just do what you want? Is this the Danny Almonte of HS hoops. This is something that is present in many sports in the city and I guess on Long island. Men truly are playing against boys in certain circumstances. There’s gotta be an age cutoff. Ridiculous.