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The Loyola Knights opened their 2007-2008 season with Regis at the Horace Mann’s Peg Duggan Memorial tournament. Despite their 47-39 loss to Regis of the CHSAA, the Knights bounced back against Trevor Day 90-65 in the consolation round. Maurice Hicks was named to the all-tournament team. Co-captains Maurice Hicks and Rob Lagno led the team in point production, scoring over 2,700 points combined over their Loyola careers. This backcourt duo – who also led the team in steals – enabled the Knights to trap, play fast, and display excellent ball control.
The Knights opened their ISAL Division 1 season by defeating York Prep 65-52. It was a bittersweet victory, losing Rob Lagno and center 6’8 Alex Powers to injuries. The team struggled until Christmas, going 2-4 without Rob Lagno and Alex Powers. Lagno’s point production and defense and Powers’ rebounding were sorely missed.
Loyola defeated St. Demetrius in the opener of the Loyola Christmas Festival 79-77 in overtime on a Maurice Hicks buzzer-beater hitting a jump shot with 3 defenders hanging on him. The Knights lost in the finals of their 17th annual Christmas Festival 72-42 against Collegiate. “Adjusting without Lagno and Powers proved difficult for us,” said Coach Agnostakis.
At the Christmas break, the Knights traveled to Florida to play in the Saint-Andrews Classic, taking on the challenge of playing two large public schools with over 2,000 students each. The Knights were edged out in their first-round matchup against Spanish River 55-46. The Knights bounced back in the consolation game against Boynton Beach 55-42. Maurice Hicks and Ted Conrad were named to the All-Tournament team.
Back in New York, Loyola started the second half of the season on the road, defeating Columbia Prep 102-81. Maurice Hicks and Alex Fieldcamp combined for 61 points, dealing with Columbia’s high-pressure game. The Knights won two more games, handling Calhoun in league play and Ivy League team Dalton 46-41. The Knights then defeated Browning 75-65, a game where Maurice Hicks had 31 points and 11 assists.
On senior night, before a packed house, the Knights set a modern-day Loyola game scoring record, defeating Columbia Prep 116-82. The spectacular energy of the home crowd fed the players; six of the Knights scored in double figures. As the season progressed, Alex Fieldcamp proved to be a prolific scorer. Alex Powers came up big inside the paint, dominating the boards with his 6’8” frame. Seniors Francesco Mollica and Henry Newman contributed off the bench spelling the starters. The Knights went on to sweep Trevor Day during the season on their way to winning the ISAL Division 1 regular season championship for the third year in a row.
ONE SHINING MOMENT
The ISAL Tournament Final featured the Knights vs. second-place finisher Columbia Prep at Hunter College. Before a big Loyola crowd chanting all game long, the Knights defeated the Lions 97-77. Hicks dropped 30 points along with 10 assists, Lagno scored 24, and Fieldcamp 26 against Columbia’s constant full court pressing game, where they changed all five players every minute or so. “We are conditioned to withstand that type of physical game,” stated a jubilant Coach Agnostakis.
Sandwiched between the ISAL tournament, the Knights competed in the oldest private school tournament in the state, the Collegiate Invitational. Their opponents were perennial powerhouse Long Island Lutheran – this season’s Class A state champions – and Upper Room Christians – last season’s Class B state champions. The Knights suffered close losses in both games – by 7 to Lutheran and The Knights finished the regular season with an 18-7 record. Coach Agnostakis said, “We needed to get ready for the NYSAIS playoffs, and these games in the Collegiate Tournament will really toughen us up.”
THE BIG DANCE
After finishing as a Class C state finalist in 2007, the team waited eagerly for the Monday afternoon announcement from the NYSAIS Basketball Committee concerning the seeding for the New York State Tournament. Loyola landed the 2nd seed. “This is the highest seed we have ever had,” stated Coach Agnostakis proudly. This is the fourth year in a row the Knights qualified for the State Tournament.
The Knights drew 7th-seeded Hackley in the quarterfinals at Dalton. Hackley had size and strength, and were able to get the early lead, but the Knights made defensive adjustments, utilizing their superior quickness and skill to build a 56-38 lead by the end of the 3rd quarter. Hackley cut into the lead in the 4th, but the scoring of Maurice Hicks and Rob Lagno held off this challenge, and the Knights advanced to the semifinals with a 68-57 victory. Hicks led all scorers with 32 points, and Lagno scored 15 of his 22 points in the second half.
The next day, the Knights defeated Staten Island Academy 61-41 to advance to the State Finals for the second year in a row, and to achieve the first 20-win season since 2001. The Knights had one of their best all-around, most dominating performances of the season. The Knights’ trapping defense caused SIA to turn the ball over 15 times in the first half, leading to many easy scores on the other end. The Knights’ fast break was unstoppable, with Maurice Hicks distributed the ball skillfully for 12 assists. Alex Fieldcamp finished with 11 points. 6’7” senior center Alex Powers scored 7 points, and managed to contain 6’10” Dylan Bulger, negating most of SIA’s inside attack. Rob Lagno scored a game-high 28, including 20 in the first half to help the Knights build an insurmountable lead. In the Staten Island Advance, SIA coach Mike Mazella said of the Knights, “They really blitzed us in the first quarter, and we never recovered…We had trouble containing their shooting guard Rob Lagno and he touched us up for a bunch of points.”
Unfortunately, the Knights had an off game in the NYSAIS Class C State Finals, and so the storybook season came to an end with an 87-62 defeat by The Masters School. Although the season didn’t end with a performance that was representative of the team’s true abilities, the Knights played with pride and determination to the end, led by senior co-captains Maurice Hicks and Rob Lagno. The seniors had no quit in them, as Lagno scored 7 of his 14 points in the 4th quarter, and Hicks proved himself to be the best player on the floor, scoring 24 of his game-high 32 points in the second half.
SLIDE SHOW—Boys Basketball 2007-2008 Season Highlights
Varsity Girls Basketball
After losing four starters from last year’s team the Varsity Lady Knights worked early to rebuild the team. The team started off the year strong with a second place finish in the Martin Luther Lady Cougar Invitational in Queens. In December, the Lady Knights hosted the first annual Snow Storm, defeating league rival Garden. The Lady Knights swept Columbia Prep, including a strong victory over the lions at Sports Night, and earned a decisive victory on the road against UNIS to lock up their playoff spot.
The two seniors – co-captain Kerry Conroy and Caitlin McManus – provided leadership and experience for what was otherwise a very young team. The Lady Knights were led by junior co-captain Kelsey Barclay who led the team in points, assists, and steals. Junior Bianca Doran – a three-year varsity player – moved into a starting role and became a key offensive weapon with her impressive driving ability. Alyssa Esteves came off the bench to show the team the level of intensity and skill needed to succeed. Sophomore standout Rachel Gregory provided a great offensive threat along with strong passion and dedication. Junior Katie Davey – only in her third year of organized basketball – earned a spot in the starting five. Her speed, energy, and intensity enabled her to become a forceful presence on the varsity, especially on the defensive end. Junior Kristin Schwam and sophomore Dorothy Jetter fought hard all year long adding a relentless work ethic vital for the team’s success. The team also featured two strong freshmen. Stephanie Goetz led the team in rebounding and added intensity on defense. Anna Marie Paolicelli helped the offense with her shooting ability, as she led the team in shooting percentage. She also showed the ability to play the point when needed.
Although it was a rebuilding year, the Lady Knights experienced success. The Lady Knights finished third in the GISAL and earned their seventh consecutive GISAL playoff semifinals appearance. With these accomplishments as well as the improvements made over the course of the season, Loyola can look forward to an even more successful campaign by the Lady Knights next year.
SLIDE SHOW—Girls Basketball 2007-2008 Season Highlights
JV Girls Basketball
The 2007-08 JV Lady Knights had yet another successful campaign, finishing in 1st place in the GISAL for the second consecutive season, and successfully defending their GISAL tournament championship. Although the Lady Knights were a veteran team, returning five players from last season's 18-2 championship squad, three of that team's starters moved up to the varsity, so there were many roles to be filled. The Lady Knights accomplished this through sheer teamwork. In their 22 games this season, there was only one occasion when one player led the team in scoring in consecutive games.
The Lady Knights rolled through their early schedule, entering Christmas with an 8-0 record, including a dominating performance at the Martin Luther Lady Cougar Invitational Tournament, which the team won for the second straight year, and a 31-point second half en route to a dominating victory over powerhouse Sacred Heart. The Lady Knights continued their streak after Christmas with wins over league rival Columbia Prep and neighborhood rival Dalton at their homecoming. This set the stage for a showdown between a 10-0 Loyola and an undefeated Nightingale. Unfortunately, the Lady Knights suffered their first loss of the season to the Nighthawks - a 4-point defeat - that snapped a 15-game winning streak dating back to last season.
The Lady Knights bounced back later in the week with two league victories, including a dazzling 45-30 victory over a strong UNIS team on Sports Night. However, just two weeks later, UNIS would deal a shocking 44-34 defeat to the Lady Knights. The Lady Knights entered the game confident, having won six games in a row after the loss to Nightingale, and riding a 22-game winning streak in league play dating back to February 2006. This loss also marked the first time the team's sophomores were defeated by more than 4 points. But the Lady Knights quickly bounced back, dominating Lycee Francee to earn a share of the GISAL regular season championship, and putting on an outstanding performance against Steiner to finish the regular season 18-2.
The Lady Knights entered the GISAL playoffs as the #1 seed, and faced an improved Calhoun team in the semifinals. The skill and teamwork of the Lady Knights, however, were overwhelming. The Lady Knights' signature pressure defense caused many turnovers and kept the pace of the game fast. They also moved the ball with great precision, generating open shots and layups as they soared to a 67-36 victory. The 67 points were the most scored in any game in the JV team's 11-season history. All nine players scored, and three - sophomores Maddy Lee, Kasey McKenna, and Brynn Norris - scored in double figures. Norris provided the highlight of the game in the first half, when she raced to the left sideline, picked up a loose ball, took two powerful dribbles to the basket through four defenders, and scored on a beautiful layup, bringing the crowd to its feet. The Lady Knights would advance to face UNIS in the finals with both a chance to take the championship and avenge their earlier loss.
On February 28, the Lady Knights captured their second consecutive GISAL tournament championship with a decisive victory over UNIS 45-23. After taking an early lead, the Lady Knights found themselves in foul trouble, and UNIS cut the score to 20-16 by halftime. As usual, the Lady Knights won with defense - holding UNIS to 7 points in the second half - and a team-oriented offense. Brynn Norris took control of the offense with her ball handling and passing skills. Maddy Lee led all scorers with 17 points. Kasey McKenna and Caroline Slattery shut down UNIS’ top two scorers. On the offensive side of the ball, McKenna’s 6 third-quarter points helped the Lady Knights build a commanding lead, while Slattery’s 8 points helped seal the victory. Kelly Simek played a strong, aggressive game on both ends of the floor. Lauren Meade played with great poise down the stretch. Ellen Anderson hit two huge shots, and Veronica Hudson and Krista Masullo each grabbed key rebounds.
The Lady Knights finish with a record of 20-2, the program's first 20-win season. The sophomores on the team finish their two years with a remarkable 38-4 record overall, 25-1 in league, and 16-0 at home. The future for the varsity certainly looks bright.
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