By Jim Stout
MaxPreps.com
So much accomplished, yet so far to go.
Few teams in the state of New York - certainly none in Section II - have enjoyed the type of success that Christian Brothers Academy has achieved in recent seasons.
The Albany-based Brothers (19-0, 15-0) have won three-consecutive Class AA sectional titles and are presently ranked No. 4 in the state. They won yet another Big 10 League championship last Friday night, routing Albany High, 68-42.
They are the only undefeated team in the section and can finish the regular season that way on Tuesday with a victory against Bishop Gibbons.
So what's the problem?
No state champions in the school's trophy case, that's the problem.
Class AA in New York is not an easy place to conduct business. The CBA boys reached the Class AA semifinals in both 2004 and 2006, but both times ran into a juggernaut named Mount Vernon. The same thing could happen again this season.
Indications are that Christian Bothers, blessed with the combination of size, quickness and experience, may be better equipped this season to deal with the Mount Vernons of the world.
Only the sectional and state tournaments - and time - will tell.
"Last year and this year the elements are comparative," CBA coach Dave Doemel told the Albany Times-Union.
"Someone asked me about three years ago. We had (Brian) Monahan and (Josh) Duell. The strengths of that team might not be the strengths of this team. We're quicker than that team, but they had quite an inside presence. It would be a tough match.
"My son Mick was on that team," Doemel added, "and he said they could kick anybody's butt. He's biased, of course. Both teams had one thing in common: great determination. They were prepared to win. That's the most vital attribute of all."
Unlike some of the other top contenders in the state, CBA tends to stay fairly close to home in conducting its regular season schedule, though it did beat JFK of the Bronx by 21 points to open the season.
Christian Brothers was beaten handily by Mount Vernon in last season's semifinals, but they bowed out by only three points in the 2004 semis.
These guys can play.
"You always have high goals when you start the season," said senior forward Luke Weaver.
"We know we're a good team. We've played some of the best teams in the state and proved we can play with any team in the state. To lose to a team we know we're better than would hurt. And we know we're capable of playing with anyone."
Jones, Rice High Squeak Out PrimeTime Win
Lincoln of Brooklyn guard Lance Stephenson has received consideration attention this season as arguably the top sophomore in New York City. And with good reason.
LaMont Jones of Rice, however, proved on Sunday that he need not take a back seat to anyone.
The Rice sophomore hit a 3-point shot from the corner at the buzzer, giving the top-ranked (in Class AA) Raiders a 57-56 win against Plainfield of New Jersey in the PrimeTime Shootout at Trenton's Sovereign Bank Arena.
Plainfield (16-4) had led for almost the entire game.
"I knew (Plainfield) was good," Rice coach Maurice Hicks told the New York Daily News. "But I didn't think they were that good. They were bigger than us and more physical than us."
But Jones, who apprenticed as a freshman a year ago, practicing against the likes of then-senior teammates Edgar Sosa (Louisville) and Curtis Kelly (UConn), wouldn't let Rice (19-2) fall. He showed his time had arrived.
"We came to practice (last season) every day, and we gave (the seniors) a run for their money," Jones said. "Sometimes, we felt like we could be playing a little more."
Now he's playing for sure, not to mention winning games in prime time.
Stephenson Can't Do it Alone
Six-foot-5 Lincoln super sophomore guard Lance Stephenson hit 17 of 23 shots from the field and scored a game-high 42 points, but the Railsplitters were beaten at the PrimeTime Shootout by St. Patrick's of New Jersey, 91-74.
The Elizabeth, N.J., school, ranked eighth nationally by MaxPreps, opened the second half with a 10-0 run for a 50-31 edge two minutes into the quarter. It maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the contest.
Jeff Robinson scored 30 points for St. Pat's.
Niagara Falls, Mount Vernon Also Fall in Trenton
Johnny Flynn scored 35 points, but no other Niagara Falls player was able to crack double figures as the Wolverines lost, 67-57, to Linden of New Jersey at Primetime.
"For us to win against very good teams, we need other guys to contribute," NFHS coach Giulio Colangelo told the Niagara Falls Gazette. "They need to score a little more."
Niagara Falls led the game at halftime, 29-23, but succumbed in the second half.
"(Linden) came out strong in the third quarter and we missed a couple easy baskets," Colangelo said.
Linden, which is ranked fifth in New Jersey, went 27-of-33 from the free-throw line.
Junior point guard Desmond Wade led Linden (19-2 overall) with 20 points, while senior Darryl Lampley had 15.
Eric Spanbauer had just two points for the Wolverines, but pulled down 10 rebounds.
Mount Vernon, meanwhile, fell to St. Raymond's, 73-61. With guard Michael Coburn being held to 13 points, Mount Vernon 6-7 junior forward Kevin Jones had his second straight big game, scoring 26 points and taking in 14 boards. His three 3-pointers in the second quarter kept Mount Vernon (16-4) in a 32-32 deadlock.
St. Ray's improved to 13-9.
Dream Matchup Coming to Steuben County
The top-ranked teams in Class C and D will square off on Wednesday night for the championship of Steuben County Athletic Association playoffs.
Campbell-Savona, the No. 1 team in Class C, will face Class D's top-ranked team, Prattsburgh, in the SCAA final at Bath Haverling High.
Earlier this season, Campbell-Savona escaped with a 46-44 over Prattsburgh.
"It'll be a great ballgame, no question about that. When you play Prattsburgh, it's always going to be a great ballgame," Campbell-Savona coach Merlin Button told the Corning Leader.
Button is hopeful his team will get off to a better start than in the first game, which saw Prattsburgh grab a 13-4 lead after the first quarter.
"It's crucial that we get off to a fast start, because we didn't do that the last time we played them," Button said. "If we can get off to a good start, we really start to flow and when we start to flow, we're pretty tough."
Monroe County Playoffs Return
Following a three-year layoff, the Monroe County high school tournament is back. The 20-member league will again crown an overall boys and girls champion this week.
The two-game event had been eliminated in a cost-cutting move that limited Monroe County League schools to just 18 regular-season games, when most other teams in Section V and the state played 20.
"The big picture is that it's great for high school basketball fans," former Pittsford Mendon coach Al DeCarlo told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
"It wasn't equitable that we had two fewer games. I know the coaches are tickled to get the games back and now the kids have two more opportunities to play and we'll have a true county champion.''
Southern Tier Playoffs Set
Oneonta, No. 10 in Class B, will play Binghamton in a Southern Tier Athletic Conference boys championship semifinal at 8:45 p.m. Wednesday at the Broome County Arena.
The STAC semifinals run Tuesday and Wednesday at the Arena and feature boys and girls doubleheader both days. Seton Catholic Central and Horseheads play in the semifinal opposite Oneonta-Binghamton.
Admission for STAC semifinals and finals is $5 per day.
Fredette Reaches New Heights
Brigham Young recruit Jimmer Fredette scored a career-high 46 points, including nine 3-pointers, as Glens Falls routed Gloversville 105-59 in a Foothills Council game.
Fredette scored 19 points in the second quarter to help the Indians (18-1, 13-0) to a 59-31 lead at the half.
Jim Stout is the MaxPreps.com Master Photographer for the Massachusetts/Rhode Island area and a Northeast Region columnist. He may be reached at either 203-563-2297 or at j.stout@jmstout.org.