UPDATE: In a thrilling finish, Chris Albano propelled the Susan Wagner Falcons to a dramatic 63-55 victory over the New Dorp Centrals today, December 30, 2023, in Staten Island. Albano, who scored a game-high 24 points, demonstrated remarkable poise by netting nine crucial points in the final quarter.
The Falcons, now boasting a 10-2 overall record, overcame a halftime deficit to secure the win. Alongside Albano, teammates Darin Humes-James and Adem Djonbalic contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Charles Gambino and Clevi Hoxha added another 12 points. With this victory, Susan Wagner continues to establish itself as a formidable contender in the league.
New Dorp, despite leading at the end of the first quarter (16-15), halftime (30-28), and third quarter (42-40), fell to a 6-4 record. Omari Onwe led the Centrals with 15 points, including three three-pointers, while Billy Fraser and Sergio Batista chipped in with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Head coach Danny Lanigan highlighted the competitive spirit of New Dorp, stating,
“New Dorp is a very talented team…We knew they would play with great spirit today.”
However, it was Susan Wagner’s late-game surge that clinched the win. Albano’s pivotal three-point play and successful free throws in the closing minutes were instrumental.
Meanwhile, in another notable game, junior Nick Rebracca of Sea scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Vikings to a 73-52 triumph over Salesian. Rebracca’s performance included a season-high six three-pointers, propelling Sea to a 6-2 overall record and 5-2 in league play. Point guard Nick Lee and sixth man Luca Mineo added 10 points each, showcasing a strong offensive effort.
The Vikings established dominance early, racing to a commanding 19-4 lead in the first quarter and extending it to 42-16 by halftime. Kevaughn Mitchell led Salesian with 15 points but could not overcome the early deficit.
In a separate matchup, Taylor Allderdice edged St. Peter’s with a 52-45 win. Despite a strong fourth-quarter performance from Nico Parlanti, who scored 12 of his 17 points in that period, St. Peter’s fell to a 2-4 overall record.
The PSAL 3A game between WHEELS and Eagle Academy SI saw the Wolves claim a 61-43 victory, fueled by Miguel Martinez’s 15-point performance. Eagle Academy struggled to keep pace after a strong third quarter by WHEELS, which saw them expand their lead to 50-27.
As the season progresses, teams will seek to refine their strategies and solidify their standings. With intense competition and standout performances, fans can expect even more thrilling basketball action in the coming weeks.
