Stepinac Wins Archdiocesan Basketball Title

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Alan Griffin finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds as the Archbishop Stepinac High School boys’ basketball team won the archdiocesan championship with a 78-62 victory over Cardinal Hayes High School at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx Feb. 24.

The Crusaders won their first archdiocesan title since 1984 and secured the archdiocese’s top seed for the intersectional tournament to determine the Archdiocese of New York/Diocese of Brooklyn representative in the state Catholic school tournament. Stepinac (22-5 overall) and Cardinal Hayes (20-7) will play in intersectional quarterfinal games at Fordham University Sunday, March 4.

“It is a great feeling for our kids, program and the Stepinac community,” Stepinac coach Patrick Massaroni told CNY of winning the archdiocese championship.

“We were able to get to this game last year and fell short, but to get the win means a lot.

“It was a true team effort to beat Mount St. Michael, Iona Prep and Cardinal Hayes to get the title. Now we have to regroup for the intersectional playoffs.”

RJ Davis contributed 22 points, four rebounds and four steals for the Crusaders in the championship game. Adrian Griffin Jr. added 20 points and five rebounds.

Tyrese Williams and Joe Toussaint led Cardinal Hayes with 20 and 15 points, respectively.