Xavier vs Regis Division A Rivalry: Game Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a Friday evening, two historic schools, met for their annual triple-header inside a basement gym on the west side of 14th street in Manhattan. When entering the Xavier gym, there is an overwhelming feeling of history in the air. The tension that a friendly game of basketball could cause is amusing to the teenagers in the crowd. But the adults, who played and coached, won't find anything funny until a winner is clear. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tonight is not a regular night. This is war. And we had front row seats for the Xavier Knights vs Regis Crusaders Division A rivalry game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the beginning, Regis was all over the glass and got out quickly in transition. But once things settled down, both teams were relentless on defense. For the entire first half every basket was earned, through tough play, rebounding, or at the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a game like this, every little mistake is magnified by the energy from the opposing cheering section. And Regis is one of the most creative and energetic student bodies we have ever seen in NYC. This might have been the only game I've ever seen where the roar from a travel call in the first couple minutes, is as loud as a momentum swinging three-pointer late in the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the shining spots in the first half for Xavier was, Brian Rudolph. When Xavier needed a rebound in this contest Rudolph was the one to come through for the Knights.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brian Rudolph","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77243","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xavier HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Brian Rudolph is a big body that knows how to use it in the paint and low block area. For Xavier, Rudolph is a relentless rebounder. Often making it look effortless, Rudolph is solid and hard to move. At his size, he gets off the ground quickly, but his spacial awareness is special.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cd1c248c8cc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Due to a few timely shots, Regis walked away at the end of the first half with a 6-point lead over Xavier. For Xavier, a few shots that they should have made, didn't find the bottom of the net. Both teams are playing well on defense, and it's one of those games that feels like the winner will be the team that makes the least mistakes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to the play on the court, the chants from the rival cheering sections are equally entertaining.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/InsideTheSoleNY/status/1757855624820347172","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/InsideTheSoleNY/status/1757855624820347172 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3rd quarter starts with defense leading the way for both teams. For the first few minutes, not much scoring is done, but a few hustle plays keep the energy in the room palpable.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Towards the middle mark of the third, Brandon O'Keefe erupts for Regis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2350213,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brandon O'Keefe","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Regis HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Brandon O'Keefe is a lead guard with the ability to knock down the 3-ball. Whether running off a screen to catch and shoot, or pulling up off a dribble move. O'Keefe was able to knock down multiple threes in a couple different ways against Xavier. As a floor general, O'Keefe kept his guys leveled during opposing runs. And always found the right man, when an open shot was needed.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cd1c248ca9c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second of two consecutive 3-pointers by O'Keefe, completely took the air out of the Xavier crowd. At this point, the silence is deafening whenever Xavier has the ball. While Regis continues an onslaught of good defensive plays and tough shot-making through the quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the lead ballooned to 19, Xavier's Haris Liem reenergized the home crowd with a strong block on a broken play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2350253,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Haris Liem","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xavier HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Kings of Queens ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Haris Liem has long arms and does a good job using his length to get rebounds, and create fouls around the basket. Liem has a nice shot from midrange and behind the arc. Plus, he's shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and create a shot for himself or teammates.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cd1c248cbc7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With such a large lead to overcome, Xavier turned up their defensive effort to start the final quarter. One guard in particular, Jason Edmund, made play after play defensively and helped Xavier claw back within 11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2350252,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jason Edmund","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xavier HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jason Edmund is a PG with lightning quick feet and hands, which make him a tenacious defender. For Xavier, Edmund comes off the bench behind senior guards and his energy is immediately felt. Because of his aggressiveness defensively, Edmund allowed Xavier to get out in transition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cd1c248cd40"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition, to Xavier's defensive effort, Regis failed to make the shots they were making in the third quarter. On the contrary, Joe Evangelista, Xavier's senior sharpshooter, started to find the bottom of the net.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2350256,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Joe Evangelista","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Xavier HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Joe Evangelista is one of the best shooters in all of NYC. And he can get his shot off in multiple ways. When Evangelista is on the floor, defenses have to keep track of him the entire time. Against Regis, Evangelista showed his range. Hitting several long 3-pointers from just a couple feet in front of the half court line.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cd1c248ce4c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Similar to Xavier at the end of the third, it is a huge defensive play by Austin Mejia, that brings life back to the Regis crowd. By the middle of the 4th quarter, O'Keefe was able to get his team in control once again. As the lead begins to extend, the Xavier student body leave the stands and head for the exits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2350266,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/P1731916-crop-1538x1010-1707940808.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/P1731916-crop-1538x1010-1707940808.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2350266" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the end of the hard fought game, the atmosphere is no longer thick. All of the loud jeers, have turned to small murmurs, as students parents and teachers mingle until the players are dressed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->