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The Cardinal Spellman High School girls’ basketball team captured the program’s first CHSAA state title in 20 years and fourth overall with a 58-47 CHSAA Class A victory over Diocese of Rockville Centre champion St. John the Baptist of West Islip at Fordham University in the Bronx March 9.
Shanice Sinclair had 18 points and five assists to lead the Pilots (22-6 overall), who advance to the state federation tournament in Glens Falls March 22-24. Jada Rogers contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds and two assists, and Scarlet Vargas scored 11 points. Brianna Diaz added nine points and eight rebounds.
In the semifinal, Cardinal Spellman defeated Sacred Heart Academy of the Buffalo region, 63-35, at Holy Trinity in Hicksville March 8. Rogers had 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists, and Diaz tallied 12 points, two assists and four rebounds. Sinclair finished with 12 points, four assists and three rebounds, and Alyssa Hill grabbed 12 rebounds.
“The road to the final four was difficult and challenging, two trips to Staten Island and one trip to Long Island,” Cardinal Spellman coach Jane Morris told CNY. “The girls rose to the occasion each time and winning at Fordham was a great experience that none of us will ever forget and will bond this group in a special way forever.
“A perfect way to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the 1999 championship team.”
Christ the King 67, Msgr. Scanlan 45—Imani Harris scored 13 points, and Kateri Poole and Kaylen Banwareesingh each had 10 points for Msgr. Scanlan in the CHSAA Class AA championship game at Fordham University March 9.
In its semifinal, Msgr. Scanlan defeated Cardinal O’Hara of Buffalo, 58-48, at Holy Cross in Flushing, Queens. Poole and Inasia Barham each had 15 points and three assists.
Msgr. Scanlan, which won a third archdiocesan championship in four years, finished the season at 22-8, overcoming injuries along the way.
“The team stuck together when the wheels started to fall off the cart,” said Msgr. Scanlan coach Tom Catalanotto. “I thought we had a great season overall, especially playing through the adversity.”
Holy Trinity 60, Aquinas 49—Aquinas (24-5 overall) fell a win shy of repeating as CHSAA Class B champions despite receiving 30 points, 10 rebounds and four steals from Kira Villegas at Fordham University March 9.
On March 8, Villegas had 27 points seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in a 66-41 semifinal victory over Christian Central Academy at Msgr. Scanlan in the Bronx. Hailie Torres scored 17 points.
“These young ladies came together to trust, respect and build a family like bond,” said Aquinas coach Roger “Red” Collier of his team that started the season with eight players and finished the year with seven.
“It was outstanding to see them compliment and lift each other up. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Indoor track and field—Daphne Banino, Haley McLean, Sarah Flynn and Lily Flynn, who all attend The Ursuline School, took first place in the 4xMile relay for the Koalas Track Club at New Balance Indoor Nationals in 20 minutes, 28.30 seconds at the Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan March 8-10.
The Koalas Track Club’s 3,200-meter relay of McLean, Claire Wilson, Sarah Flynn and Lily Flynn was second in 9:08.80.
On March 2, Lily Flynn won the 1,000-meter run and ran the anchor leg of The Ursuline School’s winning 3,200 relay at the state federation meet at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island. Lily Flynn clocked 2:50.91 in the 1,000, and teamed with Banino, McLean and Sarah Flynn to win the state title in the 3,200 relay with a time of 9:07.89.
Boys swimming—Nicholas Torres, Jack Kelly, Jared Copeland and Timothy Norris won the 200-yard medley relay championship with an All-American consideration time of 1:33.37 at the state federation swimming and diving championships at Nassau Aquatic Center in East Meadow March 2.
Torres, a senior, also swam in All-American consideration times of 50.53 for second place in the 100 backstroke and 49.74 for third place in the 100 butterfly.
Fordham Prep’s 200 freestyle relay team of Copeland, Norris, Claudio Galea and Ryan Maierle placed third in an All-American consideration time of 1:25.96.
