Hoopville - Ray Floriani

St. Patrick's Wins Hoop Group High School Showcase

by Ray Floriani

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - In March St. Patrick's season ended at the hands of eventual Tournament of Champions titlist and nationally top-ranked St. Anthony's. The Celtics gave no indication of looking back or lamenting as they more recently captured the Hoop Group High School Showcase.

The tournament was held June 21 and 22 on the campus of Rutgers University with games at the Livingston campus and the College Avenue gym, better known as "The Barn". The way St. Pat's dismantled the competition on Sunday was reminiscent of another great team that actually called the Barn home, the 1976 Rutgers Final Four team. On Sunday alone Pat's defeated Seton Hall Prep in the quarterfinals before dismantling St. Benedict's 61-35 in the semis and rolling over Windsor (CT) 54-17 in the championship.

The dual role of writing and officiating was in the order for this weekend. Here is a rundown of the games worked.

Saturday

Seton Hall Prep 66, White Plains 46
This was a second round matchup where Prep pulled away midway through the opening half. Prep enjoyed some strong inside play, but the story was the guards. Senior Jimmy Burke scored 16 points, while sophomore Sterling Gibbs (with Pitt-bound older brother Ashton watching) led the way with 19 points and did a nice job running the club.

NIA 77, Elizabeth 54
Three courts were in the Barn. While the main court was spacious and ideal, the two auxiliary courts in the back area were small, more along the size of 7-8th grade travel. Still, everyone adjusted. This game between Nia (white jerseys) and Elizabeth in the second round was quite the adventure to referee. The pace was fast and each rebound was contested by at least two 6-7 to 6-9 players playing above the rim.

One of the more interesting stories centered around the Nia School of Newark. The school has been located in the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark for several years and decided to establish a basketball program. Nia hopes to play a big-time prep schedule and entered a blue and white (jersey) team.

In this meeting Nia battled Elizabeth High School. The game was closely contested before Nia closed the half with a run. The last 16 minutes of the game belonged to the Newark school, as they ran and relentlessly full court pressed on the way to a convincing triumph. Nia had a lethal attack with four players 6'8" or taller who can all run the floor well.

In the next round they edged St. Anthony's in a close contest. On Sunday, Nia was stopped in the quarterfinals by Neumann-Goretti of Philadelphia. In all it was quite a run for the "Brick City" quintet.

Sunday

Semifinal: St. Pat's 61, St. Benedict's 35
This was a shocker to everyone. Not so much in the outcome but how the Celtics simply ran away with the contest. The lead was 36-19 Pat's at intermission and they never let up. Markus Kennedy's inside presence plus guard penetration were too much. The Graybees never really got on track on either end of the floor.

St. Peter's Prep 60, Paramus Catholic 46
One of the more competitive games seen from the officiating end was a consolation bracket meeting between St. Peter's (Jersey City) and Paramus Catholic. The two North Jersey schools battled it out in what was a one- or two-possession game before Prep pulled away the latter part of the second half to earn a 60-46 victory.

The contest also featured a pair of sophomore post players we may hear more from in the near future, Justin Harris of PC and Prep's Keith Lumpkin.

Final: St. Patrick's 54 Windsor (CT) 17
It was an honor and great experience to work the final. Very early, St. Pat's establishes control. They will run if the chance is there, but even in halfcourt they break their opponents down with dribble penetration. The guards, especially Kevin Boyle, Jr., do a nice job of controlling tempo and getting in the lane. Entrance into the paint gives the big men, like 6'8" Markus Kennedy, good opportunities. If the defense collapses the opportunity for kick-outs to open perimeter shooters is present.

The lead is in double digits early. Windsor battles gamely but the Pat's big men control inside. Transition opportunities, which the Connecticut team would dearly love, are not there. Pat's gets back in transition and stops the break very well.

At the half it's 27-13 St. Pat's. In theory the game is still undecided. Yet this-14 point lead feels like 24. Points have been tough to come by for Windsor. We go over a few things (not much as the game is well played and there are no problems with players or coaches) on the officiating end and are ready to start.

The second half is much of the same Celtic dominance. The Windsor coach encourages his players and calls instructions, from the opposite sidelines. Connecticut rules forbid head coaches from running their teams during summer, so the Windsor bench has no coach, yet he's positioned across the court on a chair for his players to hear. Chris Chevannes, the Pat's assistant, runs the team while Kevin Boyle is also across court. Boyle occasionally offers some advice to his offense and joined the huddle during halftime.

On one sequence a Pat's player asked me if the rim on one end is too low. I can't tell, then said to him and teammate Kyrie Irving, "If it is short it's not affecting your team, you've been hitting on both ends." The exchange brings a smile and laugh from Irving.

Irving (17 points) and Kennedy (11) share well-deserved MVP honors. A 6'1" junior guard, Irving is explosive to the basket, while Kennedy is a very effective space-eater in the paint.

On the way out, St. Pat's Principal Joe Picaro, probably St. Pat's most ardent fan, says hello and AD Red Migliore, hearing about the column, jokingly said, "tell them Boyle lost five games last year, if Chevannes keeps winning he's got the job."

The summer accolades do not guarantee winter championships. Still, St. Pat's has to be the top team in the Garden State for '09. As dominant as they were these two days, Boyle's team missed three key players (Dexter Strickland, Paris Bennett and Michael Gilchrist) who had other camp commitments. An interesting and scary thought.

Final notes

Several squads such as St. Benedicts, St. Pat's and St. Anthony's were without key players who had prior camp commitments. While many head coaches observe as their assistant run the team, Danny Hurley of St. Benedict's wasn't even able to do that. He was coaching in one of the camps that drew prominent players from several squads, including his.
Spotted among the crowd on Saturday: Dick "Hoops" Weiss of the New York Daily News, noted veteran AAU coach Sandy Pynonin, recruiting guru Tom Konchalski and legendary St. Anthony's mentor Bob Hurley. When the Friars played, assistants Ben Gamble and Brian Coleman ran the club as Hurley watched from the stands.
Forty eight teams comprised the field. The Elite Eight were:
Seton Hall Prep
St. Patrick's
Neumann-Goretti
St. Benedict's
Windsor
Nia (white)
Plainfield
Susquehanna (PA)
Officiating friend Brian O'Connell who works the Big East among others, was on hand Sunday to watch his son Patrick play for Middletown South (NJ) High School.
Windsor earned their way to the finals by edging local power Plainfield 92-89 in an overtime thriller.

Ray Floriani is a Hoopville Staff writer living in New Jersey. He can be contacted by clicking here.