Monsignor Scanlan can finally look ahead to the game it’s circled on its calendar since last season ended.
The Crusaders boys’ basketball team ensured its city title game rematch with Kennedy Catholic Sunday will be a battle of teams with perfect league records by running past host Monsignor McClancy 68-51 on Tuesday night.
Senior guard George Pena scored 19 of his 28 points in the first half and sparked a 7-0 run in fourth quarter that put the contest away. Saquan Singleton added eight points, Aaron Burtt had seven and Jordan McAlister chipped in six.
The victory moves Scanlan to 13-3 overall and 8-0 in he CHSAA Class A league. It hosts Kennedy Catholic (14-2, 8-0), 4 p.m. Sunday in the Bronx.
“We are just trying to come in first place,” Singleton said. “We own them one.”
Scanlan has a similar approach against the McClancy, which rallied to beat the Bronx school last season. It put the game way early in the fourth quarter by pushing a 12-0 lead 51-32 on a Singlton layup with 6:32 to play in the game.
Junior wing Alonzo Ortiz (16 points) was the only McClancy player in double figures. Scanlan made life tough on the McClancy guards with it length and athleticism. Scanlan wore McClancy down with its size in the third quarter as Burtt McAlister and Marc Trinidad had their way on the boards
“We were just trying to keep the pressure on defense and not let them come back,” Pena said.
It was Pena who allowed his team to grab control of the game. He scored 12 points in the in the second quarter, including a person 8-0 run at put Scanlan up 23-12 with 2:44 to play before the half.
It will try to carry that momentum into Sunday’s home game against Kennedy with first place on the line.
“They beat us last year,” Pena said. “We are just looking to get them back.”
