Visitors Find Out How Good the Friars Are
by Ray Floriani
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The name “St. Anthony’s” is nationally synonymous with high school basketball excellence. Now that reputation is going across the pond. St. Anthony’s defeated Bolwek Eiffel Towers Den Bosch 108-64 at Golden Door Charter School. The opposition on this first Friday evening in August was a high school club from Holland.
Eiffel Towers had an advantage in height. St. Anthony’s, missing Dominic Cheek due to injury, went with a four-guard alignment and 6’7″ A.J. Rogers in the middle. Even with the height advantage, the visitors did not use a true post-up offense. Rather, they initiated their sets with dribble penetration. Once the lane was closed the ball would be passed to the perimeter for a shot. “They ran their sets very similar to CBA (Christian Brothers Academy),” St. Anthony’s assistant Ben Gamble said. “They run the cuts and use the back-screens. They are very similar to CBA except they execute just a little faster.” Gamble ran the club while head coach Bob Hurley surveyed the action from a chair on the baseline just near the Friar bench.
After a relatively close first quarter, St. Anthony’s went on a tear. The Friars got in the passing lanes, forced deflections, got steals and fueled their fast break. Senior guard Mike Rosario was not only dangerous on the break but deadly from beyond the arc in a halfcourt set. “We extended the defense to guard against the skips (passes),” Gamble said. “We mixed up our defenses all game and after awhile fatigue set in.”
At the half, when Eiffel could catch a breather, it was 67-37 St. Anthony’s. The opening minutes of the third quarter saw the Friars, led by Rosario and running mate Tyshawn Taylor, go on a tear and wipe out any remote hope of Eiffel trimming the deficit. After three quarters, St. Anthony’s led 89-44.
The Friars used JV and varsity hopefuls the entire fourth quarter. Showing their depth, this rotation played Eiffel even. Overall the St. Anthony’s staff is pleased where they are.
“This is a very experienced team,” Gamble said. “They played together through the summer and have been together three years. They are getting prepared for the season and the states.”
That latter reference is no secret. St. Anthony’s plays for today but is motivated for March.
Notes
- Pitt-bound Travon Woodall, Jio Fontan (Fordham), Rosario (Rutgers) and Rogers (Saint Joseph’s) have all committed to a school. The only starter not committed at this juncture is Taylor, a 19-point scorer on the evening. And his stock is rising. “He (Taylor) has had a great summer and a number of strong programs are pursuing him.” Among them are DePaul of the Big East and Georgia Tech from the ACC.
- Rosario led all scorers with 33 points. The 6’2″ guard is not just a shooter but a deadly scorer with a knack for getting points off his offense or defense. “No one,” said Hurley, “can get in a lane or fill a lane like Mike Rosario. He’s just a competitor who loves a challenge and loves to play.”
- Eiffel coach Weird Goedee was disappointed, not so much with the outcome but the severity of it. “We came here expecting to face a strong, fierce team. They are explosive, have great court awareness, pressure you and rebound. We got what we expected.” Goedee’s concern was in not giving the Friars a better game. “We haven’t had gym time since June and it has been rainy in the Netherlands. I’m not saying we would have won, but if we had some more practices together we would have been more competitive.” Overall, the coach believed the trip was valuable. “The hospitality has been great,” he said, “and this is a wonderful social, cultural and learning experience.”
- How does St. Anthony’s compare with opposition in Europe ? “No one we face plays like this,” Goedee said. “They have smaller players, like their four will be a two guard in college. But all of their players just pressure you so much.”
- Eiffel was paced by Joosl Panbey and Stephen Verhius with 15 points each. Panbey at 6’6″ did a nice job inside and was able to also take defenders off the dribble. Verhius was effective from three-point range.
- The trip included a full week of activity for the visitors. On Sunday they were headed to face a team across the river in Harlem. On Tuesday they were set to play the Hamilton Park Summer League all-stars. In between were visits to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, the Empire State Building, a Yankee game, the Jersey Shore and a practice with St. Anthony’s.
- One Eiffel assistant was asked how his team was adjusting to the week of oppressive humidity that hit the region. “Anything is better than the rain back home,” he said.
- The game gave a good look at some younger players who will be expected to help the Friars this season. Madut Bol, the 6’8″ junior who will be counted on to help in the lane, has had a strong Summer and fared very well against some sizable competition. Junior swingman Noah McCoy was also impressive and should help out this year.
- The game was a college-length 40 minutes with four ten-minute quarters.
- Double duty for several St. Anthony’s players: at 7 P.M. several reserves and JV players played for the Friar team that defeated High Tech in the Hamilton Park league at McNair Academic. The first half of that game was attended by the Eiffel coaches. St. Anthony’s players then took a quick three block walk to Golden Door.
