Game 1
Chaminade chases Holy Trinity down.
The number 1 seed Chaminade Flyers took on number 4 seed Holy Trinity in the first matchup of the NSCHSAA Semi Finals at Farmingdale State College yesterday. Chaminade had beaten the Titans twice during the regular season and were heavy favorites going into the game. Let’s look at the recap.
Holy Trinity came out firing in the first quarter despite being the younger and more inexperienced roster. Their young guards were making plays and scoring. Chaminade came out a bit tight missing several shots early on. They were settling in when 6’1” G Matt Defalco (Holy Trinity ’23) knocked a shot to keep HT cruising.
The Titans lead 19-9 after 1 and we wouldn’t lie to you we were a bit shocked. Chaminade had a nice start to the second with 5’10” SG Dave DeBusschere ‘23 scoring a couple of buckets to help settle the Flyers. Trinity kept coming, pressuring defensively, and getting inside baskets. Late into the 2nd quarter the Flyers had cut the lead to 29-25 when Trinity stole the ball for a breakaway lay in. DeBusschere scored on the next two possessions to cut the lead to two points when the Titans banked a three at the buzzer.
Chaminade, trailing 34-29 at the half gave up an easy score but then got a pair of free throws from 6’2” SG Antoni Vlogianitis ‘23 who they needed to step up. Defalco canned a three, Chaminade went 1/2 from the line but the Titans scored again. Trinity got fouled missed both, gave up and1 to Vlogianitis who then hit a three after a stop. The Flyers now trailed 41-38 with 4 minutes left in the quarter when they took a big charge. Defalco scored, DeBusschere answered with a three then Vlogianitis got fouled and made both.
DeBusschere hit a floater, Defalco got by his defender for a layup and then both teams came up empty as the quarter ended. The fourth started with both teams at 45 as Trinity scored, DeBusschere hit a deep three, but Defalco finished a beautiful inside basket. Chaminade made a pair of free throws, Defalco only made 1/2 when Vlogianitis hit a monster three for the Flyers. Vlogianitis converted two more free throws, Trinity turned it over after a timeout then had their big man foul out.
The Flyers went 1/2 from the line, got a stop and scored then on the following possession dove on the floor for a loose ball and got back the basketball. They got the timeout, drew up a terrific three point shot for Vlogianitis who drilled it but the Titans scored on the other end. Holy Trinity got the timeout, sent Chaminade to the line where they converted both but then came up empty.
Holy Trinity, who had all the momentum had lost it and were desperately fouling to try to trim the lead. Chaminade was clutch down the stretch forcing awful shots and knocking down every free throw. The Flyers won 71-56 in a well-earned victory over the Titans. DeBusschere was our player of the game ending up with 19 points we still can’t understand how he’s not committed to playing somewhere next year. Vlogianitis was outstanding in the second half finishing with 18 points while Defalco had 19 points for Holy Trinity.
Game 2
St. Anthonys outworks SJB
The second game of the CHSAA double header featured the number 2 seed St. John the Baptist and the number 3 seed St. Anthony’s Friars. These two teams split during the regular season and despite the Cougars having a great start to the season they came into the game reeling a bit even with the bye.
St. Anthony’s may not have had the star power SJB has but they didn’t care as they jumped the Cougars 9-0 to start the game. The Cougars called timeout then got back to back baskets from their star 6’2” PG Carter Wilson ‘25. They hit a three then converted a tough and1 to take a 10-9 lead. SJB then got four straight blocks from their young big man plus had another one of their young guards knock down a three.
The Friars looking for answers after their hot start found them in 6’5” F KJ Duff ‘25 who’s one of the top football players in the state. Duff scored on back to back trips getting the score to 13-13 with less than two minutes remaining. SJB scored, got another block then Wilson finished a layup at the buzzer giving the Cougars a 4-point lead after the 1st.
St. Anthony’s converted a big and1, Wilson scored inside then found a forward for an easy deuce. Wilson got fouled, made 1/2 from the line then Duff got fouled and made both. Duff who was killing SJB on the boards grabbed multiple offensive rebounds then got fouled when he made the putback. Duff missed the free throw, then the Friars missed a pair but SJB was getting sloppy. Friars beat the Cougars down court for an easy score, they scored again then drew a nice charge. Duff cut by his guy for an easy layup, St. John’s tried to score and then got a last second putback.
St. Anthony’s lead 28-26 at half time and came out scoring the first six points. Carter got by three defenders for a basket, Friars beat them down the floor for an easy layup but Wilson scored again. Duff cut by his again for a layup, SJB scored, Friars hit a three but gave up a basket to the Cougars. Wilson broke down the defense for a basket to cut it to 5 late in the second but the Friars answered again giving them a 43-36 lead after three quarters of play.
The Cougars turned it over multiple times to start quarter but then got a monster and1 from Wilson to cut it to 7. Friars banked in a shot, Duff made a pair of free throws after several offensive rebounds then threw down a dunk ahead of the St. John the Baptist defense. The lead was now 52-39 just under 5 minutes to go SJB couldn’t get an easy basket forcing everything into multiple defenders plus weren’t getting back on the defensive end.
St. Anthony’s got another turnover, banked in a shot, gave up a score but then got another lay up for Duff ahead of the defense. The Cougars scored but had to start playing the foul game down 13 with just under 3 minutes to play. Friars finished out SJB 65-51 after making their free throws down the stretch. Duff, who recently got an offer from Texas A&M to play football was the best athlete on the floor and played like it. He finished with 22 points, almost 20 rebounds and a bunch of blocks. Wilson had excellent moments as well ending up with a team high 20 for SJB.
What’s Next
2/28 7:30 at Hofstra
Chaminade takes on St. Anthony’s
Chaminade chases Holy Trinity down.
The number 1 seed Chaminade Flyers took on number 4 seed Holy Trinity in the first matchup of the NSCHSAA Semi Finals at Farmingdale State College yesterday. Chaminade had beaten the Titans twice during the regular season and were heavy favorites going into the game. Let’s look at the recap.
Holy Trinity came out firing in the first quarter despite being the younger and more inexperienced roster. Their young guards were making plays and scoring. Chaminade came out a bit tight missing several shots early on. They were settling in when 6’1” G Matt Defalco (Holy Trinity ’23) knocked a shot to keep HT cruising.
The Titans lead 19-9 after 1 and we wouldn’t lie to you we were a bit shocked. Chaminade had a nice start to the second with 5’10” SG Dave DeBusschere ‘23 scoring a couple of buckets to help settle the Flyers. Trinity kept coming, pressuring defensively, and getting inside baskets. Late into the 2nd quarter the Flyers had cut the lead to 29-25 when Trinity stole the ball for a breakaway lay in. DeBusschere scored on the next two possessions to cut the lead to two points when the Titans banked a three at the buzzer.
Chaminade, trailing 34-29 at the half gave up an easy score but then got a pair of free throws from 6’2” SG Antoni Vlogianitis ‘23 who they needed to step up. Defalco canned a three, Chaminade went 1/2 from the line but the Titans scored again. Trinity got fouled missed both, gave up and1 to Vlogianitis who then hit a three after a stop. The Flyers now trailed 41-38 with 4 minutes left in the quarter when they took a big charge. Defalco scored, DeBusschere answered with a three then Vlogianitis got fouled and made both.
DeBusschere hit a floater, Defalco got by his defender for a layup and then both teams came up empty as the quarter ended. The fourth started with both teams at 45 as Trinity scored, DeBusschere hit a deep three, but Defalco finished a beautiful inside basket. Chaminade made a pair of free throws, Defalco only made 1/2 when Vlogianitis hit a monster three for the Flyers. Vlogianitis converted two more free throws, Trinity turned it over after a timeout then had their big man foul out.
The Flyers went 1/2 from the line, got a stop and scored then on the following possession dove on the floor for a loose ball and got back the basketball. They got the timeout, drew up a terrific three point shot for Vlogianitis who drilled it but the Titans scored on the other end. Holy Trinity got the timeout, sent Chaminade to the line where they converted both but then came up empty.
Holy Trinity, who had all the momentum had lost it and were desperately fouling to try to trim the lead. Chaminade was clutch down the stretch forcing awful shots and knocking down every free throw. The Flyers won 71-56 in a well-earned victory over the Titans. DeBusschere was our player of the game ending up with 19 points we still can’t understand how he’s not committed to playing somewhere next year. Vlogianitis was outstanding in the second half finishing with 18 points while Defalco had 19 points for Holy Trinity.
Game 2
St. Anthonys outworks SJB
The second game of the CHSAA double header featured the number 2 seed St. John the Baptist and the number 3 seed St. Anthony’s Friars. These two teams split during the regular season and despite the Cougars having a great start to the season they came into the game reeling a bit even with the bye.
St. Anthony’s may not have had the star power SJB has but they didn’t care as they jumped the Cougars 9-0 to start the game. The Cougars called timeout then got back to back baskets from their star 6’2” PG Carter Wilson ‘25. They hit a three then converted a tough and1 to take a 10-9 lead. SJB then got four straight blocks from their young big man plus had another one of their young guards knock down a three.
The Friars looking for answers after their hot start found them in 6’5” F KJ Duff ‘25 who’s one of the top football players in the state. Duff scored on back to back trips getting the score to 13-13 with less than two minutes remaining. SJB scored, got another block then Wilson finished a layup at the buzzer giving the Cougars a 4-point lead after the 1st.
St. Anthony’s converted a big and1, Wilson scored inside then found a forward for an easy deuce. Wilson got fouled, made 1/2 from the line then Duff got fouled and made both. Duff who was killing SJB on the boards grabbed multiple offensive rebounds then got fouled when he made the putback. Duff missed the free throw, then the Friars missed a pair but SJB was getting sloppy. Friars beat the Cougars down court for an easy score, they scored again then drew a nice charge. Duff cut by his guy for an easy layup, St. John’s tried to score and then got a last second putback.
St. Anthony’s lead 28-26 at half time and came out scoring the first six points. Carter got by three defenders for a basket, Friars beat them down the floor for an easy layup but Wilson scored again. Duff cut by his again for a layup, SJB scored, Friars hit a three but gave up a basket to the Cougars. Wilson broke down the defense for a basket to cut it to 5 late in the second but the Friars answered again giving them a 43-36 lead after three quarters of play.
The Cougars turned it over multiple times to start quarter but then got a monster and1 from Wilson to cut it to 7. Friars banked in a shot, Duff made a pair of free throws after several offensive rebounds then threw down a dunk ahead of the St. John the Baptist defense. The lead was now 52-39 just under 5 minutes to go SJB couldn’t get an easy basket forcing everything into multiple defenders plus weren’t getting back on the defensive end.
St. Anthony’s got another turnover, banked in a shot, gave up a score but then got another lay up for Duff ahead of the defense. The Cougars scored but had to start playing the foul game down 13 with just under 3 minutes to play. Friars finished out SJB 65-51 after making their free throws down the stretch. Duff, who recently got an offer from Texas A&M to play football was the best athlete on the floor and played like it. He finished with 22 points, almost 20 rebounds and a bunch of blocks. Wilson had excellent moments as well ending up with a team high 20 for SJB.
What’s Next
2/28 7:30 at Hofstra
Chaminade takes on St. Anthony’s
