St. Agnes boys claim tourney title

The St. Agnes eighth-grade boys basketball team made the most of its second chance against a Diocesan powerhouse to win the St. Francis De Sales Christmas Basketball Tournament in Rockaway.

The team opened the month-long, six-team tournament against defending-champion St. Gertrude of Bayville on Dec. 5 and jumped out to a 20-5 lead after the first quarter. But the pressure of beating last year’s league semifinalists got the better of them in the second half and the Stags fell 46-45.

“The boys knew they let the pressure take its toll and [they] lost their composure,” said coach Bill Hogan.

But St. Agnes shook off the loss and reeled off four straight wins before facing St. Gertrude again in the tournament final on Dec. 20. The game was exciting with the teams knotted at 20 at halftime, but, this time, the Stags showed patience and discipline against a ferocious St. Gertrude press defense and made some critical free throws for a 49-36 victory.

“The team came out in the first game confident and then overconfident,” Hogan said. “The loss really woke them up, and they played better and better each passing game.

Brendan Connors led all St. Agnes scorers with 17 points, while teammate Andrew Rooney added 12. Connors made all four of his free throws down the stretch and Aidan Hogan and John Jude Considine nailed both of theirs.

Connors took tournament MVP honors and Considine and Jack Murphy were selected to the All Tournament Team.

“Defense is this team’s trademark and the boys didn't disappoint and never gave up on themselves or each other,” said Bill Hogan. “The guard play got more disciplined and the patience on offense paid off.”

The eighth-graders were still undefeated in league play at press time after losing last year’s Diocesan championship game and Bill Hogan said they were “determined to get back there again with a winning outcome.”