Three-star Fordham signee
Hassan Koureissi led the way with 32 points in the win. The 6-foot-3 senior guard came up clutch down the stretch with 20 points in the second half to help the Crusaders build their advantage.
Bartlett led 28-27 at the half following an opening 16 minutes that included five lead changes and six ties.
Hassan Koureissi shot 9 of 14 from the field, 4 of 5 from 3-point range and 10 of 10 from the free throw line in the win. (PHOTO: Francis Fedor)
Archbishop Stepinac took a 50-47 advantage after three quarters as Koureissi (12), top 40 USC signee
Darius Ratliff (6) and
Josh Rivera (4) combined for 22 of the team's 23 points in the period.
The Crusaders used a strong surge in the fourth quarter to go up 62-54 following a 3-pointer from the top of the key from top 40 Michigan State signee
Jasiah Jervis with 3:44 remaining. Jervis scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to provide the New York program with the late spark.
Following a layup from
Dylan Jones on the other end to cut the deficit to six, Stepinac responded with an 8-0 run to seal the game.
Archbishop Stepinac (6-2) faces No. 2
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) in the title game tomorrow at 9 p.m. EST, a rematch of a Dec. 11 contest that saw the latter win 66-56 at home.
