Here's your weekly update on the high school hardwood action around the boroughs.
Cardinal Hayes edged Archbishop Stepinca 70-67 in an early-season CHSAA Archdiocese heavyweight bout in the Bronx on Friday night. Tobe Awaka and Tarique Foster scored 19 points each for Hayes, with Ian Jackson adding 11, including three dazzling dunks in the first half. Samuel Gibbs scored a game-high 27 for Stepinac, which played without national prospect Boogie Fland. The buzzing atmosphere on the Grand Concourse was a welcomed sight after an unfinished 2020 season and an ad hoc CHSAA spring tournament in 2021 (won by Cardinal Hayes). One baseline of the renovated gym floor was loaded with a spirited student section, while the other was lined with a slew of college coaches, including St. John's Head Coach Mike Anderson.
https://t.co/zfeIpEZtUF @CHSAA_NYC @HayesHoopsCHSAA @step_basketball #HSBB #Fab50
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) December 11, 2021
Stepinac bounced back with a 50-49 home win over Christ the King on Sunday afternoon, with Danny Carbuccia scoring 23 points, including two free throws that proved to be the difference in the game. Stepinac gained possession after falling behind 49-48 in the final minute, but Christ the King committed two fouls when they only had one to give, a rare but costly miscue in defensive execution for the Royals that put Carbuccia on the stripe. Christ the King, who topped Chaminade 64-60 on Long Island on Friday night, failed to get a clean look at the hoop on the final trip.
Stepinac 50 - CTK 49! Danny Carbuccia - 23pts, 5asts, 4rebs, 3stls. Ben Lyttle - 7pts, 8rebs, 2stls. Samuel Gibbs - 6pts, 4rebs. Team improves to 3-1 on the year. Next game at @PSACardinals Prep showcase Saturday, 12/18 at Monroe College at 1pm Vs. West Catholic (PA) @CHSAA_NYC
— Stepinac Basketball (@step_basketball) December 12, 2021
Hayes improved their overall record to 4-0 with an 83-54 win at St. Peter's on Sunday.
St. Raymond recorded back-to-back home wins over Monsignor Scanlan on Friday night (83-68) and Iona Prep on Saturday (77-67). Brandon Stores Jr. scored 24 points for the Ravens in the win over Iona Prep.
Back-to-back wins for St. Raymond over Monsignor Scanlan on Friday (83-68) and Iona Prep today. Ravens will host Christ the King on Tuesday. #HSBB
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) December 12, 2021
Link to the box score⬇️https://t.co/pAPuy5Xici pic.twitter.com/MwhNT1lLVU
The Ravens will host Christ the King in the Bronx on Wednesday (a game that was initially scheduled for Tuesday).
Cardozo defeated John Bowne 66-59 in a key PSAL Queens AA matchup last Tuesday, and the Judges followed that up with a league win at Springfield Gardens, improving to 4-0 in the Queens AA standings.
Cardozo is now 3-0 in #PSAL league play atop the Queens AA. John Bowne is 2-1. #HSBB https://t.co/aL2OUFVWdA
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) December 8, 2021
John Bowne rebounded with a 45-38 win at Campus Magnet and an impressive 61-56 win over Wings Academy on Saturday. The Wildcats visit Forest Hills, which is 3-0 in Queens AA league play, on Tuesday.
Nice win for John Bowne--their second straight after a road loss at Cardozo. Wildcats host Forest Hills, which is 3-0 in the #PSAL Queens AA standings, on Tuesday. #HSBB https://t.co/DinrPovqXD
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) December 12, 2021
South Shore remains unbeatean at 6-0, with PSAL Brooklyn AA league wins over Thomas Jefferson (87-68) and Canarsie (80-63) last week. The Vikings host Lincoln on Tuesday and visit Erasmus Hall on Thursday.
In girls hoops, PSAL powerhouse South Shore will visit Francis Lewis on Monday.