Pictured: Real Scout's Mike PooleTeam wins by following its coach's mantra
BY GARY SHARP • gsharp@news-press.com • December 22, 2009
The secret that Newark St. Benedicts Coach Danny Hurley preaches to his players who aspire to reach the next level is plain and simple.
Play defense.
Hurley's team plays it well and finds a way to mix in a proficient offense.
The Gray Bees held Baltimore St. Frances to 35 percent shooting from the field, en route to a 71-52 quarterfinal victory Monday night at Bishop Verot's High School's John J. Nevins Gymnasium.
St. Benedicts (4-0), ranked No. 9 in the country by USA Today, won the 2007 City of Palms Classic.
"It starts and ends with us playing defense. Coach (Hurley) is always stressing to play defense," said Temple recruit Aaron Brown.
St. Benedicts once again jumped out to a quick start. They led 9-2 only three minutes into the game and never trailed.
"We started well on defense and that led to numerous opportunities on offense," said Gray Bee guard Myck Kabango.
The junior, who verbally committed to Texas as a sophomore, scored 19 points and picked up four steals.
St. Frances (5-2) never got on track, due to St. Benedicts game plan to limit guards Wayne Sparrow and Dante Holmes.
"They are both really good guards, and we wanted to pressure them and make them put it on the floor," said Hurley.
Holmes led the Panthers with 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, while the team's top shooter Sparrow attempted only one field goal.
St. Benedicts knocked off St. Frances last year in the ESPN Rise Tournament in Washington D.C.
"We remembered from last year that they have good guards, and we have to stay up on the pressure. Keep on fighting, and we will be fine," said Brown.
St. Benedicts forced 23 turnovers.
Brown isn't as well known as his teammates, but that may be quickly changing.
"He (Brown) has been undervalued his whole career. He just does it all and is going to a really good program that develops players," said Hurley.
Brown notched 17 points, dished out five assists and backed up his coach's confidence in his offensive skills.
Leading 43-32 in the third quarter, Brown took the ball hard to the basket with a big cross-over dribble, draining a 6-foot jump shot while crashing into a defender.
"We needed a big play and I just put the ball on the floor and did what I had to do. I feed off others and help get everyone amped up," said Brown.
J.P. Kambola added 10 points and seven blocks, while Mike Poole chipped in 10 points for the Gray Bees.
Hurley, who has amassed a 207-20 record in nine seasons at the all-male prep school, had his support section.
The younger Hurley paced the sidelines under the watchful eye of his older brother, Bobby.
Bobby was a Final Four MVP at Duke and an NBA Draft lottery pick of the Sacramento Kings. He resides in Hollywood, Fla., raising thoroughbred horses.
Newark St. Benedict's (71): Mike Poole 5-12 0-0 10, Myck Kabango 5-8 7-10 19, Aaron Brown 5-8 5-8 17, Gil Biruta 1-4 0-0 2, J. P. Kambola 5-7 0-0 10, Xavier Mumford 3-8 2-2 9, Marcello Kambola 0-1 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 0-1 0-0 0, Andris Misters 0-0 0-0 0, Sidiki Johnson 1-4 2-3 4, Blaise Mbargorba 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-53 16-23 71.
Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances (52): R.J. Williams 2-5 2-2 6, Wayne Sparrow 0-1 3-4 3, Dante Holmes 7-17 4-6 19, Josh Forney 0-2 2-2 2, Daquan Cook 2-7 0-0 4, Karrel Goines 0-2 1-2 1, Sam Cassell Jr. 5-11 0-0 13, Greg Lewis 0-6 0-0 0, Eddie Tarver 2-6 1-2 5. Totals 18-57 12-17 52.
St. Benedicts 20 13 17 21 - 71
St. Frances 11 14 15 12 - 52
3-pointers: St. Benedicts 5-11 (Kabango 2-3, Brown 2-4, Biruta 0-1, Munford 1-3), St. Frances 4-14 (Tarver 0-3, Holmes 1-5, Cassell Jr. 3-6). Rebounds: St. Benedicts 34 (Johnson 8), St. Frances 34 (Holmes 9). Fouls: St. Benedicts 16, St. Frances 21.
Fouled out: Williams. Technicals: None. Assists: St. Benedicts 14 (Brown 5), St. Frances 9 (Williams, Lewis, Cook, Gaines 2). Blocks: St. Benedicts 9 (Kambola 7), St. Frances 1 (Tarver 1). Steals: St. Benedicts 13 (Kabango 4), St. Frances 4(Holmes 2). Turnovers: St. Benedicts 15, St. Frances 23.
BY GARY SHARP • gsharp@news-press.com • December 22, 2009
The secret that Newark St. Benedicts Coach Danny Hurley preaches to his players who aspire to reach the next level is plain and simple.
Play defense.
Hurley's team plays it well and finds a way to mix in a proficient offense.
The Gray Bees held Baltimore St. Frances to 35 percent shooting from the field, en route to a 71-52 quarterfinal victory Monday night at Bishop Verot's High School's John J. Nevins Gymnasium.
St. Benedicts (4-0), ranked No. 9 in the country by USA Today, won the 2007 City of Palms Classic.
"It starts and ends with us playing defense. Coach (Hurley) is always stressing to play defense," said Temple recruit Aaron Brown.
St. Benedicts once again jumped out to a quick start. They led 9-2 only three minutes into the game and never trailed.
"We started well on defense and that led to numerous opportunities on offense," said Gray Bee guard Myck Kabango.
The junior, who verbally committed to Texas as a sophomore, scored 19 points and picked up four steals.
St. Frances (5-2) never got on track, due to St. Benedicts game plan to limit guards Wayne Sparrow and Dante Holmes.
"They are both really good guards, and we wanted to pressure them and make them put it on the floor," said Hurley.
Holmes led the Panthers with 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting, while the team's top shooter Sparrow attempted only one field goal.
St. Benedicts knocked off St. Frances last year in the ESPN Rise Tournament in Washington D.C.
"We remembered from last year that they have good guards, and we have to stay up on the pressure. Keep on fighting, and we will be fine," said Brown.
St. Benedicts forced 23 turnovers.
Brown isn't as well known as his teammates, but that may be quickly changing.
"He (Brown) has been undervalued his whole career. He just does it all and is going to a really good program that develops players," said Hurley.
Brown notched 17 points, dished out five assists and backed up his coach's confidence in his offensive skills.
Leading 43-32 in the third quarter, Brown took the ball hard to the basket with a big cross-over dribble, draining a 6-foot jump shot while crashing into a defender.
"We needed a big play and I just put the ball on the floor and did what I had to do. I feed off others and help get everyone amped up," said Brown.
J.P. Kambola added 10 points and seven blocks, while Mike Poole chipped in 10 points for the Gray Bees.
Hurley, who has amassed a 207-20 record in nine seasons at the all-male prep school, had his support section.
The younger Hurley paced the sidelines under the watchful eye of his older brother, Bobby.
Bobby was a Final Four MVP at Duke and an NBA Draft lottery pick of the Sacramento Kings. He resides in Hollywood, Fla., raising thoroughbred horses.
Newark St. Benedict's (71): Mike Poole 5-12 0-0 10, Myck Kabango 5-8 7-10 19, Aaron Brown 5-8 5-8 17, Gil Biruta 1-4 0-0 2, J. P. Kambola 5-7 0-0 10, Xavier Mumford 3-8 2-2 9, Marcello Kambola 0-1 0-0 0, Wil Martinez 0-1 0-0 0, Andris Misters 0-0 0-0 0, Sidiki Johnson 1-4 2-3 4, Blaise Mbargorba 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-53 16-23 71.
Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances (52): R.J. Williams 2-5 2-2 6, Wayne Sparrow 0-1 3-4 3, Dante Holmes 7-17 4-6 19, Josh Forney 0-2 2-2 2, Daquan Cook 2-7 0-0 4, Karrel Goines 0-2 1-2 1, Sam Cassell Jr. 5-11 0-0 13, Greg Lewis 0-6 0-0 0, Eddie Tarver 2-6 1-2 5. Totals 18-57 12-17 52.
St. Benedicts 20 13 17 21 - 71
St. Frances 11 14 15 12 - 52
3-pointers: St. Benedicts 5-11 (Kabango 2-3, Brown 2-4, Biruta 0-1, Munford 1-3), St. Frances 4-14 (Tarver 0-3, Holmes 1-5, Cassell Jr. 3-6). Rebounds: St. Benedicts 34 (Johnson 8), St. Frances 34 (Holmes 9). Fouls: St. Benedicts 16, St. Frances 21.
Fouled out: Williams. Technicals: None. Assists: St. Benedicts 14 (Brown 5), St. Frances 9 (Williams, Lewis, Cook, Gaines 2). Blocks: St. Benedicts 9 (Kambola 7), St. Frances 1 (Tarver 1). Steals: St. Benedicts 13 (Kabango 4), St. Frances 4(Holmes 2). Turnovers: St. Benedicts 15, St. Frances 23.
