Vanguard Classic – Event Recap

NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com | Saturday, December 27th, 2008

It was the tale of two different halves as Sheehan came out of the gate ready to go and built up a double digit first half lead behind tremendous offensive execution scoring 42 points before the break.

But Hillhouse locked down defensively in the second half and held Sheehan to only three points and a single field goal in the third quarter.  Senior guard Jeremy Moore sealed the deal down the stretch as he slashed his way to the rim for seven points in the final three minutes of the game to help Hillhouse win 72-60. 

Two of Sheehan’s prominent guards, Phil Gaetano and Justin Kuntz, were both limited throughout the game due to foul trouble. 

TJ McKiver was a force inside for the victors and picked up MVP honors for his team with 17 points and 15 rebounds.  But he got more than he expected from Sheehan’s big man, Brett Biestek, who finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds en route to a team MVP award of his own. 

Sophomores Tavon Allen (Hillhouse) and John Papale (Sheehan) both stood out at times for their respective teams.  Allen made two clutch three-pointers in the second half but made an even bigger impact on the defensive end of the floor where his length and lateral quickness allowed him to get his hands on a ton of balls.  Papale was at his best in the second quarter when he was more assertive looking for his shot with Gaetano and Kuntz on the bench in foul trouble.  Papale made a variety of good moves to score in the mid-range area showing nice perimeter footwork and a knack for creating space to get off his short jumper.   

The nightcap of the Vanguard Classic featured another local New Haven team, Wilbur Cross High School, against SCC rival Xavier High School from Middletown.  The home team was ultimately able to pull of a 74-65 victory behind 17 points from Kendall Williamson and 15 from Maurice Morrison.  Will Tye led Xavier with 21.