Murray /Tricario Bracket Championship Results

<p>A well-run Chsaa tournament concluded this past week. Hats off to the Chsaa, Stepinac high school, Coach Massaroni and his staff of scorekeepers, and all the coaches, players, and referees for making this happen. Here are the results and the stand out performers in the final four contests for this side of the bracket</p> <p>                     Final Four Murray/Tricario Bracket</p> <p><strong>St. Joseph by the Sea.   64      </strong><strong>St. Edmunds    53               </strong></p> <p><strong>Monsignor Farrel              57       </strong><strong>Nazareth          35</strong></p> <p>                               Championship</p> <p><strong>Monsignor Farrell           50      St. Joseph by the Sea. 42</strong></p> <p>            <strong> MONSIGNOR FARRELL (Champion)</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>St. Edmunds </strong>went out to an early lead in the semi- final game  as their senior star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1048081" first="Malik" last="Cole"] </strong>was able to show off his mid-range game. Malik is a strong big wing who can finish at the rim, defenders are so determined to stop his penetration that he can stop on a dime and pop the 13-15 foot jumper. This game was also going to be an interesting matchup of two young post players. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1045733" first="Brendan" last="Armour"] </strong>6”6 sophomore is still young and getting accustomed to the physical play at the varsity level. But this tournament showed he is more than capable. He already has good footwork in the post. Can rebound in traffic. Plus he can face up and connect with the 10-foot shot. </p> <p><strong>Nazareth </strong>made it to the semi-finals also. They might not be the most well-known but they have a group of very talented players. They have a nice inside-outside duo. <strong>Jayden Beau </strong>is a big body space-eater who runs the floor well and sets up in the post low and wide. He has good footwork and scores using his strength.  <strong>Julez Dickerson</strong> is a flat-out scorer. Can drill the three. He can get off his own shot but is also very good at catch and shoot. <strong>Alpha</strong><strong>Tezcani (2022)</strong> will be a player to watch next season. Alters and blocks shots. A rebounding rim protector. Showed the ability to get to the basket and score. Offensive confidence seems to be growing.</p> <p><strong>St Joseph by the Sea </strong>was very impressive in this tournament. A team with young talent should be worth watching as they mature and gain experience. They trailed St Edmunds early but have this knack to stay close enough and find a way to win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1195589" first="Anthony" last="Graziano"] </strong>(2023) is a name for high school hoop fans to remember. He had a slow first half in the semi-final game but was the best player on the court in the second half. Tremendous footwork. Can score with either hand around the rim. Does not back down. Fights for post position on both ends. The championship game was more of the same. He draws fouls in the post and is a very good free-throw shooter. <strong>Xavier Barrow </strong>is also a 2023<strong> </strong>player. A very smooth poised point guard. An excellent passer and facilitator of the ball. He knows when he needs to score as well. He can shoot the three. An excellent free throw shooter and when you have the ball in his hands at the end of the game that is a luxury to have. <strong>Dorian Paki </strong>is an active player around the rim. Excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. Really good at cleaning up misses. Senior guard <strong>Louis Aldorasi </strong>excellent long-range shooter. These two players scored 13 of the clubs 19 second-quarter points to give them momentum going into the second half of the semi-final game.</p> <p><strong>Monsignor Farrell </strong>won it all on this side of the tournament bracket. A talented well balanced interchangeable club. They have players who dictate the way they want to play. The leader in dictating the pace is senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1048547" first="Patrick" last="Gardner"]</strong> a lights out shooter from beyond the arc. A quick release. Amazing ability to get his shot off with a hand in his face from different spots behind the line. Creates space for himself off the dribble and then drains it. He is open with just a little bit of space between him and the defender. Patrick was the MVP of this side of the bracket. <strong>Robert Franolic </strong>at 6”4 gives them a defensive presence. Excellent interior defender. Uses his size well. Stays vertical with arms up. Showed he can run the floor and also hit the baseline jumper. <strong>Matthew Hanley </strong>6”5 another interior player. Catches the ball in traffic and finishes. Slipped screens In pick and roll sets and scores inside. Strong on the boards. Excellent in help defense underneath.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>