Junior point guard Jalen Reneau delivered clutch plays on both ends in the closing seconds, helping top-seeded St. Raymond edge Archbishop Stepinac 69-66 in the CHSAA New York Archdiocesan Semifinals at Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx on Tuesday night.
Key sequence down the stretch. RJ Davis puts Stepinac ahead 66-65, Jalen Reneau answers for St. Raymond and puts the Ravens up 67-66 on a floater with 15 seconds left. @CHSAA_NYC @StRaysAthletics @step_basketball #HSBB pic.twitter.com/rGplLkI0zB
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) February 20, 2019
Reneau's floater with 15 seconds left put the Ravens in front 67-66 and, after a Stepinac timeout, Reneau drew a charging foul on Adrian Griffin Jr. with 4.7 on the clock, giving St. Raymond possession with a one point lead. Reneau then converted two free throws after being fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, putting St. Raymond ahead 69-66. Stepinac had a chance to tie the game on a three on the final possession, but RJ Davis missed a half-court heave at the buzzer.
Here is Stepinac's possession after the time out trailing 67-66; Jalen Reneau draws the charge on Adrian Griffin Jr with 4.7 ticks left. @CHSAA_NYC @StRaysAthletics @step_basketball #HSBB pic.twitter.com/JEdHe4NXkM
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) February 20, 2019
St. Raymond opened the game on a 14-2 run and did not trail until Matt Brand's driving layup gave Stepinac its first lead of the game at 64-63 with 1:20 left. The Ravens took the lead right back at 65-64 on Malachi Smith's reverse layup on the next possession, but RJ Davis, who scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, put the Crusaders ahead 66-65 with a leaner in the lane. Reneau's eurostep floater on the next trip gave St. Raymond the lead back for good, the fourth lead change over the last 1:20.
Tahron Allen finished with 17 points for the Ravens, while Reneau and Luis Kortright scored 14 each. Griffin Jr. carried the Crusaders in the third quarter, scoring 11 of their 17 points, while RJ Davis was nothing short of brilliant in the fourth, scoring 15 of Stepinac's 22 points.
#CHSAA NY Arch Semifinal.
— HS Box Scores NYC (@hsboxscoresnyc) February 20, 2019
Final Score:
St. Raymond 69
Archbishop Stepinac 66
After St. Raymond led the entire game, there were 4 lead changes in the last 1:30. Jalen Reneau put the Ravens up 67-66 on a eurostep, then took a game-saving charge and hit both FTs to close it. #HSBB pic.twitter.com/n2FoCSZgUY
St. Raymond will face second-seeded Cardinal Hayes in the CHSAA NY Archidiocesan Final on Saturday. The Cardinals topped Iona Prep 64-53 in the first semifinal matchup on Tuesday. Stepinac's next game will be in the CHSAA intersectional playoffs next Thursday, when they will face the winner of St. Peter's and Archbishop Molloy, who play in the opening round on Friday.
The Cardinals defeat the Iona Prep Gaels 64-53 and advance to the NYC CHSAA Finals.
— Cardinal Hayes (@CardinalHayes) February 20, 2019
Joe Toussaint scored 20 points
Julien Sourmaro scored 19 Points.
The Cardinals will face the winner of the St. Raymond's - Stepinac match up.
Up Hayes & All Its Loyal Men pic.twitter.com/zHPH3IfPuQ
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