This Week in Sports
By Michael P. Batten '10
Varsity basketball won three out of the four games they played this week. The Knights began competition with a 53-47 win over Monsignor Farrell. After losing to Collegiate 58-43 in the annual Coaches Against Cancer Classic, they rebounded with a 60-57 overtime victory over St. Joseph-by-the-Sea and then a dominant 56-44 performance against St. Edmund’s. Head coach Mr. Joseph McGrane attributes the team’s recent successes to improved post play by Doug Stapler ’16, James Bartnett ’17, and Malik Fisher ’17.
JV basketball went 1-2 this week. After losing 49-45 to Farrell and 61-58 to St. Joe’s, Xavier rose to the challenge against St. Edmund’s with a well-earned 41-37 victory. With quite a few players returning from illness and injury, the team stands to be at the top of its game for the playoffs.
Freshman basketball went 2-1 this week, improving their record to 9-8.
Facing some of the best competition in the country at the January 31 Armory Invitational, the varsity 4x800m team of Oliver Moe ’15, Dominick Ronan ’16, Frank Clarke ’15, and John Rice ’15 took sixth place with a 7:53.19 showing. In addition, the four harriers posted one of the best times in the nation this year, set a new Xavier record, and also marked the first time ever that a Xavier 4x800 had all four runners break 2:00. Meanwhile, the freshman and sophomore runners competed in the CHSAA Intersectional Championships; both teams took sixth place. Additionally, at the Jesuit Championships, the Knights stormed to a second-place finish against rivals Fordham Prep, Regis, and St. Peter’s Prep.
While the Xavier swimmers rested in preparation for the upcoming championship meet, the divers of 16th Street competed in the CHSAA Diving Championships. Angelo Angione ’17, Michael Stumpf ’17, and James Cole ’16 took 12th, 15th, and 21st place respectively. “The divers performed well,’” said head coach Mr. Dennis Murphy. In the meantime, he added, “We’re now looking forward to this weekend’s championship races. I expect that we come within the top four.”
Varsity hockey defeated St. Peter’s Boys High School on February 4, extending their winning streak to eleven games in a row since December 10.
Friday, February 6
Varsity Basketball vs. Spellman (@ Spellman), 4:30 p.m.
JV Basketball vs. Spellman (@ Spellman), 6 p.m.
Saturday, February 7
Varsity Basketball vs. Scanlan (@ Xavier), 2 p.m.
JV Basketball vs. Scanlan (@ Xavier), 3:30 p.m.
Freshman Basketball vs. Spellman (@ Spellman), 12 p.m.
Swimming – CHSAA-A Championship Trials (@ Nassau County Aquatic Center), 4:30 p.m.
Divisional Championships (@ Iona Prep), 4 p.m.
Sunday, February 8
Varsity Hockey vs. Xaverian (@ Abe Stark Skating Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Varsity Track & Field – CHSAA Varsity Championships (@ Armory), 8 a.m.
Swimming – CHSAA-A Championship Finals (@ Nassau County Athletic Center), 11:30 a.m.
Monday, February 9
Freshman Basketball v. Scanlan (@ Scanlan), 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 10
Varsity Basketball vs. Scanlan (@ Scanlan), 4:30 p.m.
JV Basketball vs. Scanlan (@ Scanlan), 6 p.m.
Wednesday, February 11
Freshman Basketball vs. Scanlan (@ Xavier), 4:30 p.m.
JV Hockey vs. Bayonne HS (@ Bayonne HS), 5:30 p.m.