PARK SLOPE, BK-Yesterday, the fourth quarter ultimately was the difference in a pair of Berkeley Carroll victories over Staten Island Academy in JV and Varsity Boys hoops at the BC Athletic Center in The Slope.
In the second meeting of the season, both contests were unpredictable with each writing its own unique script. In the opener, the JV outscored SIA 20-5 to break open a tight game en route to a big 82-65 ACIS victory. For three quarters, nothing separated the two high flying schools who played at a frenetic pace from the outset. Taking turns running up and down the court, each scored points in bunches.
It was coach Walter Paller’s club that got out to an early first quarter lead due to a press which created turnovers and a few transition buckets for the home Brooklyn school. But the Tigers fought back thanks to the solid all around play of freshman James Morisano, who paced his team with 18 points while also coming up with a few sweet dishes for open teammates. Most of his work came around the basket off strong drives. He also set up a couple of ‘mates for open three’s.
With the Lions unable to contain Morisano down low, they stuck with the high tempo strategy moving the ball quickly for uncontested shots. Most of the damage came from freshman Jasper Kitchen, who nailed a game high five triples on his way to a career best 31. At one point in an entertaining second period that saw both league rivals climb over 40 at the half, Kitchen and his ‘mates went back and forth with Morisano and the Tigers, eerily reminding of a game of H-O-R-S-E. Kitchen twice faked pass and stepped into a couple of treys.
When he wasn’t scoring, the younger brother of junior Cole Kitchen had help from Matteo Heilbrun and Will Reagan with each doing their own damage- combining for 38. The versatile Heilbrun hurt SIA inside and out, finding different ways to score. He played strong underneath and was aggressive taking the ball to the hoop getting Morisano’s supporting cast in foul trouble. Meanwhile, Reagan caught fire late in the first half scoring three straight times, including one from downtown.
Neither team would budge in the third quarter with the points piling up. Paller went to sixth man Mike Dosik who last time out exploded for six three’s in a two-point loss at the Tigers’ gym. This time, he drained a pair providing a lift. A couple of foolish fouls late in the stanza proved pivotal for their opponents who trailed 62-60 entering the fourth.
With the two other scoring threats saddled with four fouls, it left SIA with no choice but to sit them at the start of the fourth. After three consecutive misses from Heilbrun all from the outside, the Lions got it going again and this time locked down defensively. Kitchen continued his assault beating the Tigers down the floor. Heilbrun, who scored 13 of his 20 in the second half, also chipped in. The Lions also got strong guard play from starter Robert Graham, who was more assertive down the stretch after a turnover foul plagues opening 16 minutes.
Able to focus on containing Morisano, BC turned a close contest into a comfortable win topping 80 for the day.
“In order for us to win, we have to tighten the screws in the fourth quarter,” Paller stated. His team plays again later today at 5:30/
The second game was even more compelling with the Varsity stunning Staten Island Academy 50-47. Once again, the fourth quarter was the turning point with first-year coach Carmine Giovino’s crew using a dominant 22-6 run to string the upset.
Early on, neither team came out hot with stingy defenses producing turnovers and misses. But SIA coach Mike Mazzella’s Tigers had an early three-point lead thanks to some assertive play from the older brother of James Morisano, Alex Morisano. He paced Academy with 17. Not surprisingly, he beat the Lions with his head dribbling away from pressure for timely hoops.
If there was a difference between halfs, it was that he got more help early from teammates with almost everyone chipping in to help the Tigers build a 24-17 lead at intermission. The Lions hung in on freshman Shane Pearley’s eight. Nobody else had more than four, which had to change when they returned for the second half.
Everytime Berkeley Carroll looked on the verge of making it a game, Staten Island Academy had the answer with the sound shooting of their guard No.4 heating up. In fact, he hit three straight to help the Tigers build an 11-point lead. For most of the third quarter, BC struggled with a stingy Tiger D that forced them into bad decisions. They also committed some ugly turnovers, which allowed the Tigers to go up 14.
But just when it seemed it wasn’t their day, a big steal and hoop from junior Joe Longo sparked the Lions. Longo only scored six but his perimeter defense was instrumental in turning the game around. Suddenly, the Lions’ intensity picked up with an emotional Giovino urging them on. Before the quarter ran out, Pearley hit a long two which made it 39-28 entering the final stanza.
In it, not even the most enthusiastic Berkeley Carroll supporter could predict what would happen next. Spurred on by coach and crowd, the Lions turned up the heat on both ends. Offensively, Pearley had a big finish netting 11 of a game high 20. He scored inside and out, using pure athleticism for some nifty finishes in tight while stepping out occasionally.
If there were two Lions who really flew under the radar in the comeback, both Cole Kitchen and Mike Andria did their part. Kitchen scored six of his eight in the third quarter, hitting a pair of big treys. Andria played big all day. Starting in place of suspended Duncan Hardy, he was a force underneath fighting for every rebound while coming up with a few offensive rebounds to draw fouls. It was that kind of yeoman effort that got BC back in it.
Suddenly unable to find the basket, a frustrated SIA began complaining to the refs about missed calls. While it seemed they had a legitimate beef, it didn’t do them any favors. Especially when one player protested too hard, earning a technical. The loss of composure from one of the ACIS’s most competitive teams really wound up costing them.
The Lions got a huge fourth from starting guard Adam Kochman. All season, he’s filled in nicely for Longo who just returned from an ankle injury. The junior has sacrificed scoring but in the final eight, he nailed three consecutive three’s to put the Lions ahead, forcing Mazzella to call for time.
His team continued to struggle. Even drives to the hoop weren’t falling their way. Along with a couple of question calls against them, it just wasn’t their day. Instead of keeping it close, Academy let the whistles bother them with their play deteriorating in crunch time. A couple of free throws by Andria turned out to be the difference.
Even though the Tigers trailed by three in the waning seconds, they never got a clean look with a wild three missing well short along with a turnover that led to more controversy. Even Andria and Pearley misses from the line didn’t hurt the Lions, who came away with their biggest victory to date.
They travel to St. Ann’s today. Ironically, Berkeley Carroll isn’t done with Staten Island Academy with the Girls Varsity traveling to Todt Hill to take on the top seeded Lady Tigers for a 4:30 ACIS semifinal. We’ll have all the particulars tomorrow.
