In an eventful day for high school basketball on Staten Island, several teams secured crucial victories in their respective divisions. Notably, the Susan Wagner Falcons triumphed over Brooklyn Collegiate with a decisive score of 78-53 in a PSAL 4A matchup held on Saturday, highlighting the team’s readiness for the stretch run of the season.
Chris Albano led the Falcons with an impressive performance, scoring 21 points. The game was tightly contested until Wagner exploded in the second quarter, outscoring Brooklyn Collegiate 22-7 in that period. This surge propelled the Falcons to a comfortable halftime lead of 35-25. In addition to Albano, Clevi Hoxha contributed significantly with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Charles Gambino added 13 points. The Falcons improved their overall record to 15-6, with a league record of 8-4.
Wagner’s head coach, Danny Lanigan, praised his players’ teamwork and ball movement, stating, “We are sharing the ball as best as we have all season and it’s been putting our shooters in great position to make shots.” This performance marks an essential step as the team prepares for upcoming challenges.
MSIT and Eagle SI Also Celebrate Victories
The McKee/Staten Island Tech Seagulls also had a successful outing, defeating Norman Thomas 74-60 in a PSAL 3A contest. Senior Ray Guerriero was the standout player, achieving a career-high 27 points, helping his team snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 13-8 overall. Dalton Cherubin and Terrence Legrand provided additional support with 17 points and 9 points, respectively.
The first half saw MSIT take a commanding lead, heading into halftime with a score of 49-37. Although Norman Thomas attempted a comeback, cutting the deficit to 59-53 in the third quarter, Guerriero’s scoring in the final period helped solidify the victory.
Meanwhile, the Eagle Academy for Young Men II also celebrated a significant win, besting Washington Irving with a score of 78-41. Armani Perez had a standout game, scoring 25 points and adding six rebounds and four steals. Juneek Daniels recorded a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. This victory improved Eagle SI’s record to 7-13 overall.
St. Peter’s and Other Local Teams Face Tough Losses
In contrast, St. Peter’s faced a challenging matchup against Mount St. Michael, falling 63-51. Senior Nico Parlanti led the Eagles with 12 points, but the team struggled to recover from an early deficit. The Eagles now hold an overall record of 8-9.
Another local team, New Dorp, had their seven-game winning streak snapped by Percy Sutton, who edged them out 58-55. Sergio Batista led New Dorp with 18 points, but the team could not close the gap after trailing at halftime.
Lastly, Murry Bergtraum narrowly defeated Petrides 50-49. Junior Kareem Nesbitt scored 22 points for the Panthers, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Overall, the day showcased a mixture of triumphs and setbacks for Staten Island high school basketball as teams continue to vie for position in their respective leagues.
