Canisius wins 2011 Manhattan Cup

 

2011 Manhattan Cup Championship - Canisius 57, St. Joe's 53

 

When Canisius headed into the locker room down 14 points to the Marauders at halftime of the Manhattan Cup Championship on Wednesday night, the team's body language said it all.  They didn't look like a team that was shell shocked, frustrated, or in any way defeated.  Instead the Crusaders jogged to the locker room with the look of a team that believed in each other and believed that they could come roaring back and win the Cup.  And that's exactly what they did.

 

Led by a 13 point, 22 rebound performance by tournament MVP Gordon Lyons, the Crusaders stole the momentum from their rivals in the second half with an outstanding display of heart, determination, and team basketball.  The Crusaders trailed by as many as 17 points in the game, but never put their heads down, and seemed to try even harder as the deficit grew.

 

Early in the third quarter with St. Joe's leading 37-23, Aaron Nevins got the Canisius run started.  After scoring a basket, Nevins drew a charge on Marauder leader Connor Rehbaum, which got the Crusader bench up on their  feet.  A score from Lyons followed the charge, and after a defensive stop, junior Matt Hart began to heat up.  Hart would score the next nine points for Canisius, including a 3-pointer so deep, it was announced "from the parking lot".  Having cut the lead all the way down to six points, sophomore guard Aaron White buried a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter.  With just eight minutes left in the Monsignor Martin high school basketball season, the sold out Koessler Center was rocking.

 

Rehbaum opened the scoring in the fourth for St. Joe's, before Richard Walsh sank a trey to bring the Crusaders within two points.  The Marauders were able to extend the lead back up to six, when White struck again from downtown to make it 48-45 with 4:50 remaining.  A shot from Walsh and a free throw from White pulled Canisius within one point.  Then with just 2:28 remaining in the game, White zipped a beautiful pass inside to Lyons, who gave the Crusaders the lead, their first all game. 

 

In the final two minutes, Canisius made three plays that were critical to sealing the win.  First, there was Nevins with a highlight reel block of a layup attempt from Steve Moser to prevent St. Joe's from reclaiming the lead.  Next was Walsh grabbing an offensive rebound with just 34 seconds remaining, and Canisius up by one. Finally, there was Adam Weir, who rebounded a free throw miss and got the ball to Nevins who connected on a pair from the stripe with 14 seconds left, to put the decisive distance between the teams. 

 

Hart scored a game-high 14 points for the Crusaders, while Rehbaum's career ended with a team-leading 12 point effort.  Canisius will play St. Mary's of Long Island in the CHSAA state semifinal, Saturday at noon, in the Koessler Center.

 

It was a tough way for St. Joe's to end its season.  After nearly running the table in league play, the Marauders lose at home to Canisius, forcing them to share the MMAA title.  Then an emotional senior night ends with a huge victory over Niagara Falls.  Riding high on the momentum of the regular season finale, St. Joe's handles Timon-St. Jude without Reggie Agbeko and then come flying out of the gate in the title game.  But Agbeko's injury limits his production, Rehbaum has to play with a busted nose for three quarters, and the Marauders hopes of finishing on top are dashed as Canisius pulls together for an incredible finish.

 

All season long in the Monsignor Martin, there's been Canisius & St. Joe's and then everyone else.  A fitting end with the two meeting one last time, along with a well earned and most deserving championship for Canisius.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[McShea is God]

First of all I think more than a 1 sentence write up is in order! C'mon man, put your daughter to bed and get to work!

GREAT game. Canisius looked lost on offense in the 1st half and Joe's in the 2nd half with great D by both teams. I hope Nevins can FINISH some of those great drives if they have any shot Sunday. Lyons WILLED them 2 a win 2nite. I get WHY Reggie was on the bench at the end but HE would have gotten those 2 offensive rebounds that KILLED Joe's at the end of the game. Unless he fouled out in which case I am wrong but if not I can't believe he wasn't in there 2 get the rebound.

I mess with Earl on here alot but props 4 sure 2 him and his team going into a hostile place and beating a Maple Grove team that has played there MANY tims. Good job Earl. Good luck against the old team. Wasn't there but sounds like Holland carried his team 2 the win over OTC.

FINALLY I can't believe Sean Brusso witnessed me being personally attacked and didn't step in 2 difuse the situation! WTF! C'mon man! Not going 2 get into detail but a weird incident indeed.

FINALLY I hope McKinley and/or Lancaster don't screw up tommorrow and win. We all want that Falls vs Jamestown rematch! I'm out!

[Patrick Moran]

MIG: Hopefully this can hold you over til Centercourt gets those two index fingers typing his commentary:

http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/crusaders-take-down-st-joes-to-win-manhattan-cup/

Great game and despite the loss, great season for St.Joe's as well. They were the two best teams this year and it wasn't even close.

[hoopster]

Congratulations to the Crusaders and especially Gordon Lyons. A great kid from a great family. Nice to see him have such a great game and get some serious props by earning the cup mvp.

A sour taste to be sure for Joe's tonight, which in no way diminishes a truly outstanding season.

[Patrick Moran]

Tonight, I got to say that I really saw the human side of sports, especially in high school when they're memories (either way) you'll carry for the rest of your life.

On the one side, Nevins shed a couple of tears of joy with his teammates and coaches. Well deserved, he's not only a fantastic player but he's such a nice, and unselfish kid.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Rehbaum was visibly upset, completely understandable. Remember, these are still teenage kids and when you leave everything you got on the floor and reality sets in it's the last time you'll hear the roar from the crowd at the high school level,it's tough to take. More than 30 minutes after the presentations were over and everybody else left, I saw him at the end of the press table still sloped over.

I stopped and stepped away from my laptop and made it a point to go up to him and tell him that as someone who covered a lot of hoops this year, I was very proud to have written about him. Great game or terrible game, there are few kids I've seen in recent years that play with the passion he does. I told him he had a lot to be proud of with all the great things he did and that his basketball days are most definitely not over; he'll be playing again at the next level somewhere for sure.

Ironically, The two are good friends and Aaron told me after the game that wherever he goes to college, he's trying to get Connor with him.

Great stuff.. It's why I love covering high school sports much more than the pros. These kids truly care about the game. Now that the at least the catholic season is done here, I can step back and boast about what a pleasure it was to cover both those teams, and both those guys.

[John and Kara]

Pat, The Rehbaum family would to thank you for all your coverage this season on St. Joe's basketball. It really is a team effort and we are so proud of our boys. We thank all our friends and 'fans' who have shown support in the team and Connor after last nights game. We are finding out today if his nose is broken. Congrats to Canisius on Manhattan Cup Championship. Game is played for a full 32 minutes and Canisius did just that.

[spectator]

spoke to the trainer after the game and i was told rehbaum had suffered a broken nose at the end of the 1st quarter.

[hoopster]

Just checking in on Connor; how's he doing? Anyone have any updates??