It was a thrilling end to a long day. Laurent, a senior guard, stopped a 9-0 Mountaineers run with a long jumper with 3:37 left. It cut the deficit to 37-35. Senior forward Shahab Syed hit one of two free throws to make it a one-point game with 1:43 remaining.
Then things got crazy. Neither team could make good on scoring opportunities. But with 29 seconds left and the Friars with the ball, Laurent nearly lost the handle before recovering and lobbing a desperation pass inside. It eventually found the hands of Syed, who finished the play with a strong move along the right baseline.
The 6-5 Syed, who was fouled on the play, also sank the free throw to put the Friars up 39-37. Kevin Kerr added a pair of three throws with :00.3 seconds left for the final margin.
No one could have expected such an intense finish to a season opener. The St. Anthony's gym played host to the Bronx vs. Long Island CHSAA Challenge on Saturday, the official start to the boys basketball season for the six teams on hand.
The triple-header featured Cardinal Hayes vs. Kellenberg, Fordham Prep vs. St. John the Baptist and Mount St. Michael vs. the Friars in the nightcap. Four hours of basketball passed before coach Mike Ryan could turn loose his troops.
The Friars, coming off a berth in the state CHSAA Class A tournament a year ago, looked every bit a playoff team for the better part of three quarters. Jon Francois, a 6-8 senior, dominated down low early. And Syed's short jumper put St. Anthony's in front 31-21 late in the third.
The Mountaineers responded. But the Friars, who shot 38 percent (18-for-47) from the floor, refused to lose at home. Laurent finished with 10 points while Francois and Syed each added 8 more.
Get ready to open up the offense. The Friars will face an even greater challenge next time when they play Half Hollow Hills West and sophomore scoring sensation Tobias Harris on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. at St. Dominic.
Junior guard Joe Dolisi pushes the ball up the court.
Senior guard Mike Capozzi breaks free.
MVP
Senior Shahab Syed came up big in the final 1:43 against Mount St. Michael. First he drew a foul, hitting one of two attempts to close the gap to 37-36 with 1:43 left. Then the 6-5, 240-pound forward muscled his way free along the right baseline with 29 seconds left, picked up a loose ball and finished strong to the hoop. Syed not only sank the bucket but was fouled in the process. He made the free throw to complete the three-point play, and just like that, St. Anthony's went from down a point to up 39-37. SCORING
TEAM............................1......2......3.....4 — FINAL
Mount St. Michael.........9....10.....7....11 — 37
St. Anthony's................14....11.....6....10 — 41
MSM: Williams 2-0-5, Alder 1-0-2, Acquah 1-2-4, Daniels 3-0-6, McMahon 2-0-4, Mitchell 4-3-12, Daily 2-0-4. Totals: 15-5-37. SA: Laurent 5-0-10, Kerr 1-2-4, Capozzi 3-0-6, Francois 4-0-8, Syed 3-2-8, Poetzsch 1-0-3, Russell 1-0-2. Totals: 18-4-41. Three-pointers: MSM 2 (Williams, Mitchell); SA 1 (Poetzsch).