The Class A state final is over, but the Class AA game is still ahead. You can join our LIVE chat or follow along on Twitter @LoHudInsider. You’ll get live play-by-play on the live chat, so, if possible, that’s where you want to be.
I’ll use this post to update final scores and post recaps of the games. Check back for those, plus a look at the upcoming Federation tournament schedule.
Sunday’s games -
At the Glens Falls Civic Center:
Class A state championship
McKinley 76, Burke Catholic 73 (OT)
Class AA state championship
Bishop Kearney 45, New Rochelle 39
GAME RECAPS
Class A state championship
McKinley 76, Burke Catholic 73 (OT): At the Glens Falls Civic Center, Lovell Smith scored 24 points and had eight rebounds ad three assists to earn MVP honors as McKinley (Section 6) won its first state title. Teammate Samuel Smith hit two free throws with 5.8 remaining to send the game to overtime. Burke missed a 30-plus-foot shot at the buzzer.
Michael Coffey led Burke (Section 9), last year’s Class B state champ, with 22 points. He hit a 3-pointer late in regulation to put the Eagles up three, but Marcus Morris (16 points) answered with a 3 to tie it 60-60 with under a minute to play. Stan Buczek (19 points, 14 rebounds) then hit two free throws to give his team a 62-60 lead.
Burke had the ball with 0.7 left but the ball was stolen at halfcourt before the Eagles could attempt a shot.
Class AA state championship
Bishop Kearney 45, New Rochelle 39: At the Glens Falls Civic Center, Kearney blocked 14 New Rochelle shots, eight of them by 6-foot-10 Chinonso Obokoh, a Syracuse-bound senior. Six-foot-9 sophomore Thomas Bryant had 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Kings (Section 5) and earn tournament MVP honors. Antwoine Anderson added 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals and joined Obokoh and Bryant on the all-tournament team.
New Rochelle held just one lead in the game, 3-2, and trailed 29-18 at halftime. The Huguenots cut their deficit to 34-31 after three quarters, but were never any closer.
Senior Joe Clarke led New Rochelle with 26 points and 10 rebounds. He also had three steals and was named all-tournament. Khalil Edney was held scoreless (0 for 6), but did have 10 rebounds, two steals and a block. He was named the sportsmanship award winner. Derek Dorn was the team’s second-leading scorer with five points.
Dorn hit the only 3-pointer of the game to open the scoring. The Huguenots shot 1 for 9 from 3-point land as a team and went 14 for 59 (23.7 percent) from the field. It was the program’s second appearance in a state final. New Rochelle also lost to Niagara Falls in the 2005 state championship.
The Huguenots attempted to become the first team from the largest classification to win state football and basketball championships in the same school year. They also would have had the most losses of any team to reach the Federation tournament since 1999.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, March 22
State Federation tournament
At the Times Union Center, Albany:
Class AA semifinals
Bishop Kearney (NYSPHSAA) vs. Christ the King (CHSAA), 6:45 p.m.
Long Island Lutheran (NYSAIS) vs. Lincoln (PSAL), 8:30 p.m.
15 Comments
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR;
GREAT EFFORT BY NEW ROCHELLE TO STAY CLOSE,IT WAS A SPECIAL RUN,THEY JUST CAME UP SHORT,CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE HARD TO WIN,BUT THEY GOT “GOLD”,CONGRATS
How stupid is it that a Private Religious school just won the Public School State Championship? Why are they allowed in to the tournament? This Kearny team can recruit from anywhere they want. COmplet BS>
Great run but a great group who never gave up
Congrations to our Runner Up team. They are champions all over.
Congrats New Ro hoops. You did the town proud!!!
Came close to a team with so much height. And legit D1 height. Is it too early to discuss early favorites in AA next year?
Playing Private Schools is part of winning states. Mt Vernon Beat Aquinas Institute of Rochester for Last Year’s NYSPHSAA Title. Not to mention that Mt Vernon beat Bishop Kearney by 10 earlier this season. NewRo should be happy with their MIRACLE run that was started with a MIRACLE shot vs Mt Vernon. It sounds like SOUR GRAPES to be mentioning the Private School argument. Don’t compete in the Tournament if you can’t deal with it. Bishop Kearney is a C size school which played a AA schedule. Welcome to playing for states. If you can’t take the heat get out if the kitchen. You got GMA, Sportscenter & numerous other news exposure for your miracle shot that came after a clock started LATE after the inbounds pass was 1st touched. Be happy you had an easy path to getting BEAT by a team Mt Vernon already had beaten. Season Over Move On
WHAT A SHAME,
WOOOOOOOOOW,YOU SAID A MOUTH FULL
I feel the argument. Non CHSAA Catholics should be put in the tourney with AIS schools and play for the right to go to Feds vs them
STATESMAN,
YOU KNOW WE HEARD IT ALL FOOTBALL SEASON
what a shame
That is garbage – private schools need to play private schools. The Mckinley win was soooo satisfying in part due to that reason.
What A Shame,
You sound like one of those wannabees on the end of the Mount Vernon bench sucking up to Ciminno? New Rochelle beat you fair and square . So shut up. Your season of being a MV sycophant ended a few weeks ago.
OOS1BASKETBALL,
WE DON’T NEED TO RUIN WHAT NEW RO DID BY BASHING MV COACHING STAFF,THIS IS NEW ROCHELLE’S TIME
WHAT A SHAME;
BE COOL LET NEW RO REFLECT
Great run New Ro, easy for me to say in the peanut gallery but there is nothing to be ashamed of. Went toe to toe with a no borders school!
I agree about the McKinley win being satisfying. It took a school from one of the larger districts in the state to pull it off.
I’m a lengthy time watcher and I just believed I’d drop by and say hello there for the really initial time.