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High School Basketball
McClancy Season Opens with Bro. Arnold Tourney
By Bernie Beglane
St. Francis Prep is returning to defend its title in the 26th annual Brother Arnold Memorial Basketball Tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 1-2.
The classic, which originally started with four schools, now has eight in the double-elimination competition conducted by Msgr. McClancy Memorial H.S., East Elmhurst.
It is named in honor of Brother Arnold Bakutis, S.C., who was athletic director and chairman of the physical education department of the school conducted by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
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Brother Arnold, SC |
“Brother Arnold was jogging one day and suffered a heart attack and died,” explained Don Kent, the coach.
“Shortly after that I approached Brother James O’Grady, the principal, and Charlie O’Donnell, the athletic director, about starting the tournament.
“They liked the idea, especially since it would keep Brother Arnold’s memory alive. The tournament started with four schools, but nine years ago we expanded to eight.
“We also used to hold the tournament prior to Thanksgiving, but now we wait until the holiday is over.”
The first round on Dec. 1 has Moore Catholic of Staten Island playing St. John’s Prep of Astoria at 4 p.m.
St. Francis Prep follows against Holy Trinity of Hicksville at 5:45 p.m.
The night doubleheader, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m., has St. Mary’s of Manhasset against Cardinal Spellman of the Bronx and St. Agnes of Manhattan (our alma mater) against McClancy.
The semi-finals are at 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. on Dec. 1. That same day calls for the loser bracket games at 3 and 4:45 p.m.
The next day starts with the seventh place contest at noon and continues through the title game at 5:30 p.m.
St. Francis’ Hines Chosen For All Pre-Season Team
Robert Hines, outstanding forward for St. Francis College, was selected for the Northeast Conference’s All-Pre-Season Team.
Sacred Heart College of Fairfield, Conn., was the pick to win the championship. Robert Morris and Wagner finished two-three.
St. Francis wound up eighth, three spots better than LIU.
On the women’s side, the Blackbirds fared much better. How much better?
Coaches tabbed them to finish No. 1, followed by Robert Morris and Quinnipiac.
The Terriers of Brooklyn Heights were No. 6 in the balloting, while Wagner was tied for No. 10.
More good news for the LIU gals. Valerie Nainima, a sophomore guard, gained a berth on the pre-season squad.
No surprise at all since she was the ‘Player of the Year’ as a freshman during the 2006-07 season.
Katja Bavendam of St. Francis’ Terriers, a senior 6-8 center, also was tabbed for the five-woman squad.
New York Sandlot Alliance Cites Kaiser and McElroy
Jack Kaiser, athletic director emeritus and former baseball coach at St. John’s University, was honored by the Greater New York Sandlot Athletic Alliance at Roma View Caterers, Howard Beach.
James McElroy, chairman of the Cadets Baseball Club who has influenced so many young people, also was cited.
As was William Klapach, director of the Staten Island Federation.
Lou Carnesecca presented Kaiser, Matt Galante, McElroy and Tony Navarino.
Madison Square Garden Hosts Maggie Dixon Classic
The Maggie Dixon Classic, named in memory of the West Point women’s basketball coach who collapsed and died suddenly, has been moved to Madison Square Garden and will be played Dec. 8.
Duke is paired against Pittsburgh in the noon opener, while nationally ranked Rutgers goes against Army, which is coached by Dave Magarity.
A First for St. John’s Prep
The Varsity Girls’ cross-country team from St. John’s Prep, Astoria, captured its first Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA championship in school history on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Van Cortlandt Park. Century Williams ’08, Samantha Rodriguez ’08, Emily Rosario ’08, Gina Moreno ’09, and Lashonda Hawthorne ’10 all contributed to the victory.
They are shown with Assistant Coach Timothy Tuohy, and Coach Tom McDonald.
Third Marathon
Jennifer Sandiford, chairperson of the Language Department at St. Joseph H.S., Downtown Brooklyn, ran her third NYC Marathon and posted a time of 4:45:50. This performance was only surpassed by Sandiford’s usual prompt arrival to school the very next day!
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