(Mark Simon is now the all-time winningest coach at St. Joe's)
After years of a Manhattan Cup playoff format that saw all the varsity basketball teams competing in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association play in one big, winner-take-all postseason tournament, a change was made prior to the start of this season. Gone is the quarterfinal round, that used to pit the top school from the regular season against the one that finished last in the catholic league, and also gone is the chance for a Class B school to win it all and go on to the CHSAA state semifinal as the Class A representative.
Instead, it's in with the new. Two tournaments, one for the Class A teams and one for the Class B teams, with separate Manhattan Cups for each, now decide who moves on in the state playoffs. That new format tipped off on Sunday afternoon at St. Mary's in Lancaster. With both classes having five teams apiece, the Manhattan Cup playoffs began with play-in games between the #4 & #5 seeds for each respective class. By the end of the day, it was Niagara Catholic moving on to face Park, St. Joe's creating a trilogy with an old friend, and Marauder head coach Mark Simon making a little history on a special day.
St. Joe's 74, St. Francis 48
Two minutes into the game, sophomore guard Naseer Jackson connected from long range to put St. Joe's up on the Red Raiders, 3-2. It turned out to be the game-winner. The Marauders jumped out to an early 10-2 lead against St. Francis, before taking a 15-8 lead into the second quarter. they were just getting warmed up.
A 29-8 outburst from St. Joe's in the second quarter, gave them a comfortable 44-16 lead at the break, and made the second half seem like a formality. While St. Francis never really threatened to comeback in the second half, they did come out a much more competitive squad for the final 16 minutes, and along the way, saw its leading scorer attain an impressive milestone.
Kordell Holness-Lightbody, who scored a game-high 25 points, reached the 1,000 career point total on a three-point play in the final stanza, an achievement he accomplished in just two varsity seasons. A strong contingent of Red Raider fans were on hand to salute Holness-Lightbody, standing and chanting "MVP-MVP-MVP"! They weren't the only ones to stand and pay tribute. The entire St. Joe's bench gave a standing ovation as well. It was the type of classy gesture they may well have learned from being around their coach, Mark Simon, who reached his own special milestone with the Marauder victory.
The St. Joe's win gave Simon 279 victories for his career at the school, which surpassed the all-time mark that was previously held by Frank Schavione. Making it all the more special, the circumstance and implications. Simon achieved the milestone on his birthday (I'm told his 44th - they may have stopped counting several years ago) and with the victory, he earned the right to face the Marauders' rivals, Canisius one more time this season.
As soon as the Marauders made it through the handshake line, they surrounded their coach and were excited to pay tribute to him. Simon obliged and joined his players in a quick moment of rejoicing, before posing with his squad for a couple photos. His staff was delighted for him. St. Joe's AD Peter Schneider and MMA Executive Director Brian Kiszewski were also on hand to pay tribute to Simon. It was brief, it was cool, and it was fitting. I can't imagine another coach meaning more to the basketball program and beyond at St. Joe's than Simon does. Following the game, he was typically humble about reaching the milestone win, but it was obvious how much it meant to him - no surprise if you know how much St. Joe's, his players, and his staff mean to Simon. Congratulations coach, you earned it & you deserve it.
St. Joe's was led by Marcell Davis' 17 points. Grant Beyer added 15 points, while Jack Scaglione score 12 points for the Marauders.
Niagara Catholic 65, Cardinal O'Hara 59
Giulio Colangelo (Niagara Catholic) and Tony Pulvirenti (O'Hara) each took over at the helm for their respective teams at the start of the season. And after both made strides with their programs, putting their own stamps on the team, the two had to battle it out for a third time to determine who moved on in the Manhattan Cup Class B dance. It was the Patriots who got to lace up their boogie shoes.
In an entertaining affair that saw the lead change 13 times, along with nine ties through the first three quarters, it was the Patriots who took the advantage into the final stanza and never looked back.
Trailing 47-45 late in the third quarter, The Patriots finished the third on an 8-2 run. Zack Socha scored to get the surge started, followed by a pair if buckets from Jaceary Menes, the second being a three-point play. When freshman Imean Davis connected from beyond the arc to end the quarter for Niagara Catholic, it gave his team the lead for good. The Hawks could only get within two points in the fourth quarter, which they did twice over the final eight minutes, but they never regained the lead.
Menes finished with a game-high 24 points, while Jake Socha scored 19 points and had a nice breakaway dunk.
Donel Cathcart finished his career at Cardinal O'Hara with a 19-point effort, giving him 566 on the season. Nasir Benton and Charles Debose each scored 13 points for the Hawks in the loss.
-centercourt
Nice tribute to Coach Simon CC! He's a class act. He's done a ton for St. Joe's as a mentor of young men both on and off the Court. Congratulations Coach! Long time friends and foes are extremely happy at you reaching a significant milestone in your coaching career. On to 300 and beyond!!!
Posted by: hoopster | Monday, February 23, 2015 at 02:55 PM