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Spellman Cops Bro. Arnold Tourney at McClancy
BY BERNIE BEGLANE
If at first you don’t succeed…
You know how the rest goes.
And so does Fred Opper, now in his 22nd year as basketball coach at Cardinal Spellman H.S.
Competing in the 26th annual Brother Arnold Memorial Tournament, the Archdiocese of New York school defeated St. John’s Prep of Astoria, 59-52, last Sunday to win the title for the first time.
The closest Spellman, which has now competed in the classic sponsored by Msgr. McClancy Memorial H.S., East Elmhurst, four times, came to winning previously was 2003.
That year Fred saw his team lose to St. Francis Prep in the finals.
In the opening round of the eight-school double-elimination competition this time, Holy Trinity, Hicksville, eliminated St. Francis Prep, the defender from Fresh Meadows, 59-51.
Spellman needed overtime to oust St. Mary’s, Manhasset, 78-75, and McClancy topped St. Agnes of Manhattan, 65-57.
St. John’s Prep was a 74-67 survivor over Moore Catholic of Staten Island, in double OT.
The semi-finals saw St. John’s Prep rout Holy Trinity, 62-38, and Spellman get by McClancy, 51-48.
As for the battle for third place, Holy Trinity edged by McClancy, 46-43.
St. Mary’s was on the long end of a 51-47 count over Moore Catholic for fifth place.
St. Agnes nipped St. Francis Prep, 57-56, to claim seventh place.
Chris Manhertz of Spellman, only a sophomore, was selected MVP. The champs also place Brendon Murray on the all-tournament team.
Likewise, St. John’s Prep landed two players – Rashad Smith and Jon Ragonaski – on the squad.
James Lehane of McClancy and Byron Freeman of St. Mary’s completed the selections.
“It was a great tournament…a first-class tournament,” stated Opper.
“However, that’s the only way Don Kent (McClancy’s coach and tournament director) does things.”
Manhertz, referring to his MVP award, explained, “It feels great.
“I have been playing basketball since I attended Oakview Prep in Yonkers.
“Honestly, I started in pre-K and played through the eighth grade.”
“This was the most-balanced field we ever had in our 26 years,” said Kent. “The closeness of the scores tells it all.”
Opper, a first baseman for Fordham University who went on to be inducted in the Jesuit school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, always knew he wanted to become a coach.
“I actually started my career while I was in my freshman year at Fordham,” he explained.
Fred began coaching at Mt. St. Michael’s H.S., the Marist Brothers’ school in the Bronx, in 1976-77.
“I coached the freshman and junior varsity teams for five years and then switched to St. Agnes (another Marist Brothers’ school) in Manhattan where I was varsity coach for five years.
“Then Spellman (he is athletic director and physical education teacher, also) for all these years.
“I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of it.”
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James Castrataro, athletic director at Msgr. McClancy H.S., congratulates Stephen Jennings, left, and James Lehane, right, who competed in the 26th annual Brother Arnold Memorial Tournament, sponsored by the East Elmhurst school for young men. Eight schools participated in the double-elimination competition this time around. McClancy topped St. Agnes of Manhattan, and Cardinal Spellman H.S., Manhattan, in the semi-finals. McClancy was ultimately edged out of third place by Holy Trinity, Hicksville. |
Carnesecca and Beglane on Bleacher Preachers
Former St. John’s University basketball coach Lou Carnesecca and Tablet sports columnist Bernie Beglane will be the guests on the cable sports talk show, Bleacher Preachers, this Monday evening, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
Viewers can call in and share their thoughts with the guests and the regular panelists. Bleacher Preachers can be seen on The Prayer Channel, Ch. 97 on Time Warner and Ch. 30 on Cablevision.
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