By David Cordova
Throughout the season, there have been teams that have been making strides to being successful. One of those teams have been the St. Raymond’s Ravens. As of late, the Ravens have been playing very well, beating teams like Mount St. Michael, Cardinal Hayes, Iona Prep (twice) and Bishop Loughlin (twice).
On their Alumni/Homecoming Day, they would meet up against a new addition to the Bronx/Westchester “AA” Division, the Monsignor Scanlan Crusaders, a program with some talent, but also a program that is just getting adjusted to playing tougher competition after making the step up from the “A” division, where they have dominated the last couple of seasons.
Both programs squared off in offseason tournaments like the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park in Harlem during the summer and the Tru Ballaz Preseason High School Tournament in the fall, and both teams showed off their respective talents. But both games were in the past, and this game was now the present. It would be a battle through 32 minutes and only one team would emerge victorious in the battle of two Bronx schools.
St. Raymond 69, Monsignor Scanlan 67
In the opening quarter, Scanlan ran off to a 4-0 lead in the first couple of minutes. Then moments later, St. Raymond stepped up their level of play, eventually running off to a 13-4 lead with about four minutes to go. In the first minute of the second quarter, the Crusaders showed their athleticism with dunks by juniors Victor Potter & Jalen Lecque, which brought them to within two, 18-16, with 6:55 to go.
Although Scanlan stayed close and knocked on the heels of their counterparts, the Ravens continued to hold down their lead. The game continued to stay close, as the Ravens stayed on top at halftime, leading by a slim margin, 38-36.
Scanlan then got their first lead of the game on a three-pointer by senior Saquan Singleton with 7:49 to go in the third quarter, as they led 39-38. The play of the Crusaders improved as they led 44-38, with 5:07 left to go in the quarter.
St. Rays would not go down quietly, as junior Nicolas Rivera would hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 50-48, with less than ten seconds left. They then retook the lead, 54-52, at 6:32 in the fourth quarter on a layup by senior Isaiah Washington.
The final quarter would be a tough one as both teams would stay neck & neck and trade baskets throughout. With 1:37 left, junior Omar Silverio hit a three-pointer to bring the Ravens up four, 65-62. The Crusaders had plenty of chances to at least tie the game, but could not convert, as the Ravens would close out the win.
Washington led St. Raymond with 26 points and seven assists and junior Darius Lee added 14 points and eight rebounds. For Scanlan, junior Gabriel Joseph-Bryan led with 17 points and Singleton added 12 points in the loss.
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