GUILDERLAND CENTER, N.Y. — A little time off wasn’t going to stop the juggernaut known as Monsignor Farrell.
PJ Scalisi scored a game-high 23 points and the Lions withstood a second-half run by Transit Tech to roll to a 55-47 NYS Federation A Tournament of Champions semifinal victory over the Express Saturday at Guilderland HS.
The 23-6 Lions, who haven’t played since steamrolling Bishop Timon-St. Jude in the Catholic A state final on March 11, advanced to Sunday’s state championship and should they win, they’ll become the first Staten Island boys’ team to claim a Federation crown. Standing in the Oakwood school’s way is Albany Academy, the NYSAIS champion which upended Tappan Zee, 59-55, in Saturday’s other semifinal.
Farrell and Albany Academy (15-6) will lock horns at noon Sunday at Guilderland HS.
“It feels pretty unbelievable, actually. It’s just a great feeling,’' said Farrell coach Mike Dunn, whose team won its sixth straight game dating back to Feb. 15. “The team has believed in the seven letters across its chest more than the names on their backs. That’s what got us here and that’s why we won again today.
“Any time you’re playing on the last day of the basketball season in this state, you’ve done something. And of course, we want to finish the job.’'
“It’s a great feeling,’' added Scalisi, Farrell’s leading scorer with a 16.2 ppg. average. “It feels great to move on and to be playing again tomorrow, it’s just really nice.’'
Monsignor Farrell senior Jake Conroy (22) attempts a shot despite the defensive presence of Transit Tech's Tyler Fraser (10) and an unidentified player behind him in Saturday's NYS Federation A Tournament of Champions semifinal. Conroy, who is supported by teammates Andrew Melillo (3) and Timmy Manuelian, right, did a superb job defending Transit leading scorer Ashton Reynolds on Saturday. (Kara Buzga for the Staten Island Advance)
In addition to Scalisi, the Lions received big offensive contributions from seniors Andrew Melillo (11 points) and Timmy Manuelian (10 points). Dunn, meanwhile, also gave enormous praise to senior Jake Conroy, who did an admirable job containing Transit leading scorer Ashton Reynolds (16 points).
“He’s a very special player, that young man,’' said Dunn of Reynolds, who’s only a junior. “But Jake did an unbelievable job on him. He kept him in front of him and he was a handful, but he picked up his fourth and eventually fouled out late in the game.
“Jake did a great job on him, I thought.’'
The two-week layoff did little to stop the Lions in the first half as their trademark defensive play stymied the Express, who were limited to 18 points at intermission just one week after tallying 71 during its lopsided victory over Epic South in the PSAL A division title game (71-47).
The 6-foot-3 Scalisi scored eight first-quarter points on the strength of two three-pointers and Melillo added five msrkers as Farrell led 16-9 after one period. The Lions, who shot a sizzling 52.8 percent from the field(19 for 36), poured it on in the second behind Scalisi (six points) and Conroy (first three-pointer of the entire season) to give Dunn’s troops a 31-18 lead at intermission.
“We got off to a quick start, which was big,’' said Scalisi, who shot 7 for 13 from the field. “I think one of the keys was our defense. We keyed on (Reynolds) defensively and wanted someone else to beat us and, fortunately, at the same time I was able to hit some shots.’'
“I thought PJ was awesome, between his scoring, rebounding and defense. It was all huge in the first half,’' added Dunn. “I think he might have even missed his first shot, but then he got going.
“He’s a player,’' added the coach with a laugh. “He just keeps making plays.’'
Daniel Hyland of Monsignor Farrell goes up for a rebound during Saturday's NYS Federation A Tournament of Champions semifinal victory over Transit Tech at Guilderland HS. The Lions defeated the Express, 55-47. (Kara Buzga for the Staten Island Advance)
The Express, who also received scoring contributions from Garelle Solomon and Xavier Sanchez (12 points apiece), made a run in the third to get back into the contest. Solomon and Sanchez, in fact, teamed for 14 third-quarter markers as the Brooklyn school trimmed Farrell’s lead to seven (45-38) entering the final eight minutes.
Dunn wasn’t completely surprised that things got tight.
“I sensed a little bit that they had a run in them because we controlled the game in the first half, but not everything was going totally our way,’' the 13th-year mentor said. “We started turning it over here and there — some of them unforced — and they were just a lot more aggressive, especially on the backboards. It gave them life.’'
Transit scored the first bucket of the fourth and it was still within five midway through the final period when Farrell had possession, but the shot clock was winding down. But just like he’s done on several occasions this season, point guard Melillo got into the lane and connected on a jumper that upped Farrell’s lead back to seven.
“Andrew got into the lane and hit an off-balance banker that finally helped us increase our lead again. It was huge,’' said Dunn, of Melillo, who finished with a team-high four assists. “It wasn’t pretty, but effective. That’s what Andrew does and we really needed that at that point.’'
Farrell uncharacteristically struggled from the charity stripe in the contest (11 for 20), including hitting just 6 of 13 freebies in the final period. However, Manuelian canned his only two chances in the fourth and Scalisi added four as the Lions sealed the win — and yet another title-game appearance.
“Missing free throws was a little frustrating, but Timmy hit two big ones that gave us an 8-9 point lead and put us in good shape,’' said Dunn, who received solid rebounding efforts from Conroy (six), Scalisi, Manuelian and Melillo (four apiece). “(We were challenged) in the second half, but we got it together. We figured it out and got the win.’'
Yet, again.