The month of February - as well as the CACC regular season - closed with a bang on an eventful Saturday, while the top two ECC clubs sidestepped scares on the homefront. Our headline comes from the City of Brotherly Love and a miraculous finish that ironically left a team ousted from the playoff race leaping for joy on Leap Day:
HOLY FAMILY 83 JEFFERSON 81
Eric Esposito caught a full-court pass up the left sideline and hoisted a game-winning 25-footer in the same motion, lifting Holy Family to a stunning upset of #8 Jefferson at the Gallagher Center, snapping its hosts’ 18-game win streak and denying them a chance for the region’s first perfect league slate in 11 years. The Tigers – who had trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half (44-30) – were staring at certain defeat, down 81-80 with 0.4 seconds on the clock when Jake McGonigle threw a perfect touchdown pass from the opposite baseline directly into the hands of Esposito, who caught and released right before the buzzer; the shot hitting the bottom of the net to cap his 21-point night (5-10 from long range). All three of the Rams’ losses this season included a missed free throw in the final minute of regulation that, in all likelihood, would have resulted in a different fate. In this case, Devaughn Mallory came up short on the front end of a one-and-one after a steal with 0.9 seconds left, setting the stage for the unforgettable finish. Jefferson was ahead 75-66 with four-and-a-half minutes to play before its crosstown rivals – who had dropped 33 of 39 lifetime meetings going in – unleashed a 14-4 run, edging in front, 80-79, on a more conventional 3-pointer by Brendan Hoban (18 points off the bench, 7-12 FG, 4-7 from 3) with 27 seconds remaining. Kylan Guerra responded with a lay-up seven seconds later, which appeared to be the decisive play after Mallory’s steal against fellow big man Branden Aughburns (19 points, 10 rebounds, four assists in his last career game). Deondre Bourne topped the Rams’ scoresheet with 22 points (7-12 from deep), followed by Mallory (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Guerra (16 points), all of whom played the entire ballgame and the latter joining Russell Frederick as the only players in program history to compile 1,500 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists for their careers. Josh Bradanese chimed in with 14 points in the numbing loss as Jefferson now focuses on the postseason and a tricky first-round match-up with streaking Felician. The Tigers – who finished even with Georgian Court for fourth but lost the tiebreaker – used the 3-point line as their primary weapon (16-31 compared to JU’s 11-32), offsetting disparities in the paint (26-12) and on the boards (42-33, including 16-6 offensive, leading to an 18-4 scoring differential). The last East Region team to run the table in conference play was Tim Cluess’ C.W. Post Pioneers, who were a perfect 18-0 in the ECC during the 2008-09 season.
Here’s the video clip of the once-in-a-lifetime play, courtesy of Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L1IiQ_YBzo
ST. THOMAS AQUINAS 88 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 83 (OT)
Osbel Caraballo’s foul shot with 39 seconds to go in overtime snapped an 81-81 tie, and Grant Singleton added two more off an O-Board two seconds later, helping #12 St. Thomas Aquinas slip past upset-minded District of Columbia in Sparkill, moving into sole possession of second place in the ECC, a half-game over idle Daemen. The Spartans led by as much as 26-15 before the Firebirds crept back and actually nosed in front for the first time, 62-61, on two Zachary Olukanni freebies with 6:12 to play. Singleton then bookended a 9-0 spurt with a couple of jumpers to put STAC back in front, 70-62, with 3:21 left. That’s when backup junior guard Cheyenne Middleton caught fire, generating eight straight points in 61 seconds, highlighted by back-to-back triples, that knotted the count – 70-70 – at the 2:20 mark. After the home team put the next three points on the board, Nettleton connected on another long ball to even the score once more at 74-74 with 17 seconds remaining. And the visitors had a chance to steal it at the end of regulation as Kerry Kirkwood came up with a loose ball and saw his desperation heave bounce off the backboard as time expired. A dunk by Olukanni (13 points, four assists) to open the extra session gave UDC a temporary boost before Singleton’s go-ahead three sparked a 7-0 charge that put Aquinas ahead, 81-76. However, five straight points by Jahmir Marable Williams (he had 11 in a reserve role) equalized for the last time, 81-81. After the go-ahead free throws, Marable-Williams hit a jumper to make it a one-point game. Sekou Cisse slammed one home with nine seconds to go, and after Olukanni’s potential tying trey was off the mark, Caraballo closed out the scoring with two foul shots, wrapping up a 23-point (8-11 FG), seven-rebound, four-assist afternoon. Cisse added18 points and 11 rebounds for the Spartans, who also received strong outings from Singleton (17 points, 6-9 FG, eight boards, five assists), Demetre Roberts (11 points, seven assists off the bench) and Jamar Sudan (10 points in reserve duty). Nettleton chalked up 28 points (10-17 FG, 8-12 from long distance) off the pine for the Firebirds, while Kirkland flirted with a triple-double (18 points, 5-10 from afar, eight rebounds, eight helpers). UDC stroked more than twice as many trifectas (17-36 to 8-25) but was bettered at the stripe (16-19 to 8-16) and on the glass (48-32), neutralizing a 25-12 boon in mistake points. District of Columbia can finish fifth, sixth or the dreaded seventh (outside the playoffs) in the ECC pecking order, depending on Sunday’s results.
BRIDGEPORT 100 MERCY 85
D’Vonne Trumbo collected 20 points, seven assists (including his 500th) and six steals to lead five in double figures as ECC regular-season champ Bridgeport shook off a scare by Mercy to prevail at Hubbell Gym, essentially locking up the top seed for the upcoming NCAA regional. Bakary Camara also contributed 20 points, along with eight rebounds and six helpers for the Purple Knights, who were soundly outshot (49%-39%), outrebounded (58-43) and even out-assisted (27-25) but atoned for those shortcomings by inducing a whopping 35 turnovers (while committing just nine), outscoring their guests 43-14 off of mistakes as the Mavericks alarmingly produced more errors (35) than field goals (34), 24 coming by virtue of takeaways. A 14-2 flourish late in the first half flipped a 32-27 Bridgeport lead into a 41-34 Mercy advantage, and it extended to 50-41 before the hosts closed out the period with five unanswered. A 13-2 UB jaunt shortly after the restart transformed a 57-51 deficit into a 64-59 lead, then a 13-0 flurry opened up an 82-66 chasm on a Camara put-back with 7:39 on the clock. The margin hovered between 13 and 21 the remainder of the ballgame as Mercy ended the season with a fifth straight setback. Jose Pabon-Sanchez totaled 15 points and four assists in his first start for the Purple Knights, who also landed Hashem Abbas (13 points) and Juan Coffi (11 poins, five thefts off the bench) in double figures. Six of the seven Mavericks who saw action also reached doubles, with Dayvon Cuffey topping the list with 19 points (7-8 FG, 4-4 from long range) and seven boards. He was supported by national rebounding leader Bryan Griffin (17 points, 21 caroms, including his program-record 708th, surpassing Frank Bailey’s 703) as well as Brandon Wilson (12, 6), Dondre Barnes (12 bench points on 5-of-7 shooting), Korey Lee (11 points, six caroms) and Lamont Williams, Jr. (10 points, five assists).
BLOOMFIELD 91 CALDWELL 74
The playoff picture is now complete in the CACC, where a pair of New Jersey teams clinched the final two berths in the North thanks to workmanlike road wins. In Caldwell, Bloomfield opened the second half with a 24-0 blitz, expanding a 41-39 lead to a commanding 65-39 after a 4-point play by Safee Abdus-Sabur (21 points, 5-7 from beyond the arc) as the Bears held their hosts without a field goal over the initial 7:05 of the period, cruising past the Cougars, who never came closer than the 17-point final spread. Darin Bellinger notched 24 points and Matt Lajeunesse 17 (7-9 FG) with nine rebounds for the winners, who clinched third and will open the playoffs Tuesday at Goldey-Beacom. Ruud Lutterman provided the lone highlight for Caldwell, scoring his 1,000th career point, which was the bittersweet centerpiece of a 16-point, 12-rebound swan song. Chandler Brooks pitched in with 11 points on perfect shooting (4-4 FG, 2-2 from 3) while dishing out five assists off the bench for the Cougars, who collapsed down the stretch with a region-worst eight-game losing streak – the program’s longest dry spell since a similar stretch late in the 2009-2010 season. The Bears used the foul line (17-20 to 10-18) and second-chance scoring (28-3) to fuel their victory.
FELICIAN 68 GEORGIAN COURT 59
Felician garnered the fourth and final spot in the North after repelling Garden State rival Georgian Court – fourth in the South – at the Wellness Center in the circuit’s final crossover contest. An 18-2 spell over the last 7:45 of the half flipped a 22-17 deficit into a 35-24 lead the Golden Falcons would never surrender, widening it to 45-29 two-and-a-half minutes into the final period and keeping their hosts at arm’s length down the stretch as the Lions crept within seven points on four occasions; the last occurrence at 63-56 with 2:59 to play before a Jeff Lewis dunk 17 seconds later put the finishing touch on the proceedings. The senior guard churned out 26 points (10-18 FG) and eight rebounds for Felician, which went 7-1 in February – its most wins in a calendar month since another 7-1 February exactly a decade ago, when the team went on won its only league tournament (0-4 in the postseason since then). Jaylen Colon logged 10 points (5-7 FG) and nine assists for the victors, who finish fourth in the North for a third straight year and will face the tall task of meeting Jefferson in the first round. Matt Ringel gathered 13 points and eight rebounds for Georgian Court, which also received 10 points apiece from Jelani Jackson and Alonzo Ortiz Traylor, the latter of whom only played in the second half. Their team will play at Dominican on Tuesday. The final tally in CACC crossovers saw the North get the better of the South, 28-21.
GOLDEY-BEACOM 73 WILMINGTON 67
The two Delaware schools take second and third in the South as Goldey-Beacom completed a season sweep of archrival Wilmington in Newark, seeing all eight players reach the score column, fronted by Tevin Service (22 points, 9-15 FG, 4-5 from deep, nine rebounds), Juran Ligonde (19, 9) and Nazim Derry (12 points, four steals). The Lightning trailed the entire first half, and by as much as 21-8 before constructing a 29-11 spree on the other side of the break, reversing a 32-27 deficit into a 56-43 upper hand after a Service hoop with 10:56 left. The Wildcats – who were powered by Danny Walsh’s 25-point effort (10-17 FG, 5-11 from distance) – responded with a 20-10 upswing, creeping within 66-63 on a lay-up by Jermaine Head (17 points, six rebounds, eight assists) with 2:01 remaining. They would get no closer, however, as Goldey dominated the backboards, 46-30. The Lightning will host Bloomfield in the first round of the conference tourney. Wilmington – which also received 16 points and career-high 17 rebounds off the bench from Kameron Cooper – will play at Post.
DOMINICAN 82 NYACK 65
Nyack’s late playoff push came to an abrupt end at the Hennessy Center, falling to Rockland County rival Dominican. The North Division champs led from start to finish, riding a 20-5 wave over the last 6:07 of the half in lengthening a 21-18 lead to 41-23; the differential bouncing between 11 and 20 the entirety of the second half. Jason Copman was high man for the Chargers with 20 points (8-11 FG), 15 rebounds and three blocked shots, while D.J. Rodwell offered 13 points and Ethan Smith, Jr. 11. Curtis Thompson (18 points) and Kennith Ford (12) closed out their careers in reserve roles for the Warriors, who also placed Joel Bailey in twin figures with 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Three-point shooting (DC 9-25, NC 4-11) and second-chance scoring (16-8) represented Dominican’s chief statistical advantages, while Nyack did more damage at the foul line (15-21 to 7-15). The Chargers open their playoff run by hosting Georgian Court.
POST 101 CONCORDIA 79
Devonte McCall registered 15 of his 24 points during a 29-6, game-opening binge as Post crushed Concordia in Waterbury. McCall added eight rebounds to his stat line for the Eagles, who also received notable efforts from Marcus Johnson (19 points, 9-12 FG, 14 rebounds), Savion Boissard (16 points), D,J. Jarrett (16 points, seven boards, four assists) and D.J. Frechette (10 bench points). Dion Herrington netted 18 points for the Clippers, who trailed 52-29 at the half and never came within 10 points thereafter as a McCall lay-up initiated a late 19-7 run that enhanced a 69-58 advantage to 88-65 with 4:48 to go. Jesse Breeding concluded his career with 17 points, while Jared Young posted 14 for Concordia, which was hammered on the glass (59-26, including an eye-popping 25-5 on the offensive end). Post – which will host Wilmington in the playoffs Tuesday – also exhibited more firepower beyond the arc (11-30 to 5-23) and doled out more than three times as many assists (16-5).
CHESTNUT HILL 93 SCIENCES 82
Jesse Balcer – the man who shepherded Chestnut Hill from Division 3 to Division 2 in 2007 and later become the school’s athletic director – has announced he is hanging up his coach’s whistle... and he went out a winner on Saturday as the Griffins defeated fellow Philly rival University of the Sciences at Sorgenti Arena. Trevonn Pitts paced five in double figures for the hosts with 21 points (9-14 FG), 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks as the Griffs jumped out to a 28-12 lead, only to fall behind 59-53 in a second half that saw 10 lead changes, including seven straight at one stretch. The last exchange materialized when Conor Regan scored a lay-up at the 6:17 mark that erased a 73-72 deficit and jump-started a 16-0 power run that put the game out of reach at 88-73 with 2:13 on the clock. Regan recorded 16 points, five assists and four rejections for Chestnut Hill, which finished just a game out of the playoff picture. Other noteworthy performers included James Rider V (15 points, 5-9 from 3, seven rebounds in a reserve role), Billy Miller VI (14 points in his final collegiate contest) and Scottie Spann, Jr. (10 bench points). Sean Simon delivered 25 points and handed out four assists in defeat for the Devils, who also saw Connor Murphy amass 13 points, personal-best 24 rebounds and six assists off the pine, as well as 13 bench points from J.J. Melchoir in his last game, and 12 from Jordan White, who established a new team record for free-throw percentage for a season at 88.4%. USciences held a 53-27 rebounding edge in closing out a turmoil-filled campaign with a fourth straight setback. The Griffins made twice as many foul shots (12-15 to 6-7) and boasted a spiffy 25/14 assist-turnover line.