Ray Floriani

ST. PATRICK TAKES HOOP GROUP SHOWCASE

Ray Floriani offers unique perspective on championship game as one of the referees

By Ray Floriani

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – St.Pat’s served notice that last March’s season ending loss to St.Anthony’s is behind them and they are primed for another TOC (Tournament of Champions) title. The Celtics captured the Hoop Group High School Showcase defeating Windsor of Connecticut 54-17 in the championship game.

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 ’76 Rutgers Final Four team. Pat’s defeated Seton Hall Prep in the quarterfinals before dismantling St.Benedict’s 61-35 in the semis.

The dual role of writing and officiating was in the order for this weekend. Among the games on the schedule was the championship. An honor and enjoyment to do. Here is a rundown of the championship game.

Windsor defeated Plainfield (NJ) in a high scoring overtime contest in the auxiliary gym. Facing St. Pat’s would be a tough order given not just the talent but the fact Kevin Boyle’s club was playing extremely well. The tournament was officiated by two man crews but for the finals we had three which makes perfect sense. Went over some pre-game thoughts and three-man mechanics with partners Bart Flanzbaum and Phil Pender.

Toss the ball up at center court and we are off. 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-foot-8 Markus Kennedy, good opportunities. If the defense collapses the opportunity for kickouts to open perimeter shooters is present.

The lead is 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 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.

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.

The game in hand Pat’s goes into a delay the last few minutes. The buzzer sounds on a 54-17 Celtic triumph. At. Pat’s poses for a team picture with the championship trophy and players from both sides get interviewed. Post game we have a brief officiating meeting. Again, not much to go over as the players decided the game that went smoothly.

Irving (17 points) and Kennedy (11 points), in a deserved choice, share 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 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 were at other camp commitments. An interesting and scary thought.

Ray Floriani is a freelance writer and NBE Basketball Report contributor living in New Jersey. Ray has been a basketball writer for over 25 years, and was named the 1999 NIT Media Man of the Year. As noted in the article, Ray also officiats locak contests on the AAU and high school circuit in New Jersey.

Look for more coverage from Ray as well as our other contributors from the Hoop Group High School Showcase as the week moves along.

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