The Second Annual Catholic School's Winter Classic at Cal State East Bay in Hayward featured Catholic programs from throughout Northern California. Here is a rundown on the games and some of the featured players.
St. Patrick St. Vincent 81, Valley Christian (Dublin) 45
The Bruins cruised to an 81-45 victory as they run their record to 5-1. This game was never in doubt as St. Patrick St. Vincent had a 21-7 advantage after one quarter and then a 46-20 lead at the half. The Bruins had superior size, speed, and athleticism against the Vikings as they drop to 5-3.
St. Patrick St. Vincent will play the rest of the season without Jalen Canty. Canty did play during the football season and also the first five games in the current basketball season. Apparently, he does not have eligibility for the rest of the season as he has already played eight consecutive semesters, which came down in a recent ruling by the California Interscholastic Federation.
Even without Canty, the Bruins have height in the post with junior Ryan Stewart who is 6-foot-8 but lacks the bulk of Canty. In addition, the Bruins have athletic and sizeable perimeter players in Jordan Hickman and Jose Flores. The bench also has some depth in size to offset this loss.
The Tri County League has El Cerrito undefeated currently at 9-0. Salesian and St Joseph Alameda will also battle with the Bruins in league play. St. Patrick St. Vincent has a deep enough roster to make a run for the upper half of the league this season.
St. Francis 52, Central Catholic 38
St. Francis struggled early as the Lancers were trailing 7-0 late in the first quarter before rallying to take a 23-21 halftime advantage. After the intermission, The Lancers played stifling defense to limit Central Catholic in winning 52-38. Both teams look solid for their league as the Lancers move to 5-0 while the Raiders drop to 7-2.
The Lancers have a plethora of interchangeable guards who play scrappy, drive to the rim hard, and are not afraid of launching form deep. Junior guard Matt Tripaldi is undersized at 5-foot-7 but made a few three point shots while his backcourt partner sophomore Curtis Witt was equally effective from outside or going inside. The Lancers also have two forwards in Eric Morgan and Peter Hewitt who are both 6-foot-8 that give them rebounding and post options.
Archbishop Mitty has dominated the West Catholic Athletic League in the past few years. But this season is fairly open for the WCAL as the Lancers have a balanced squad with enough playmakers to compete for the top spot.
Central Catholic never got any offensive rhythm and key forward Jonathan Boddie had early foul trouble. This Raider team is trying to replace last season's post player John Fenton who is at Colgate this year. With that said, the Raiders look to have enough pieces to be the favorites in the Western Athletic Conference League.
St. Mary's 63, Serra 54
Despite a late run from Serra, St. Mary's (Stockton) held on in a 63-54 victory. UC Santa Barbara signee Gabe Vincent was dominant in the win with 23 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3FG), six rebounds, and three assists. He was the only double-digit scorer for the Rams.
Although it was a strong showing from Vincent, St. Mary's has other key pieces that shouldn't be overlooked. Junior transfer Lance Coleman can also provide scoring, with eight points in the win, while guard Devin Williams was a spark off the bench with nine. The Rams are guard heavy, as the 6-foot-6 Coleman is the tallest player on the roster, but can be scrappy on the defensive end and force turnovers that result in fast break opportunities. With an 8-1 record, St. Mary's should be the favorite in the Tri-City Athletic League.
Serra lived behind the three-point line as the Padres attempted 27 of their 48 field goals from behind the arc; however, only seven of those tries were successful. They're led by senior guards Danny Mahoney and Sean Watkins who both had eight points. Junior posts Seth Barlett and Trevor Brown were solid down low to compliment the guard play. Serra should contend for a WCAL title, but will need to shoot better than it did against St. Mary's.
Moreau Catholic 77, Marin Catholic 61
The host of the Winter Classic, Moreau Catholic, led Marin Catholic 31-14 after the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 77-61 win.
Moreau is a very young squad, as the Mariners started three sophomores and two freshmen, yet extremely talented. Sophomore wing Oscar Frayer dominated in the win with 25 points (10-11 FG) and nine rebounds. He used his athleticism to finish above the rim with multiple dunks but also flashed a mid-range jumper. Fellow sophomores Brandon Lawrence and Armond Simmons were also solid with 10 and eight points respectively. Freshman point guard Damari Milstead showed that he'll be one of the top youngsters to watch with 14 points (4-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) and six assists. The youthful Mariners will compete with a veteran Newark Memorial squad in the Mission Valley Athletic League.
It was a tough day for Marin Catholic which struggled against the Mariners full court press. Seniors Josh Walewander and Keegan Mulcahy led the Wildcats with nine points apiece.
Riordan 53, St. Joseph Notre Dame 46
In the most competitive game of the day, Riordan defeated St. Joe's 53-46. Unsigned senior point guard Jiday Ugbaja led the way with 24 points (7-13 FG, 3-7 3FG), four assists, and three rebounds.
The Crusaders lean heavily on the Ugbaja cousins who combined for 39 of Riordan's 53 points. Chiefy Ugbaja was also key on the boards with 11 rebounds. Junior Karim N'Diaye provides size inside with his
6-foot-8 frame while senior Zach Masoli is a glue guy who chipped in six points. Riordan should be in the WCAL title race this season.
St. Joe's is a much younger team but is led by Long Beach State signee Temidayo Yussuf, who had a team-high 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Pilots have a solid backcourt as well with Marcus Harris to go with freshmen Darne Ducket and Jade Smith. Senior Rafie Herbert provided instant offense off the bench with a trio of threes. The Tri-County League Rock Division will be an interesting league to follow with St. Joe's, El Cerrito, Salesian, and St. Patrick-St. Vincent battling it out.
Players of Note
Jordan Hickman 6-foot-5 G St Patrick St Vincent (2014): Hickman is a long and lanky guard who uses his height advantage well. He can disrupt the passing lanes and also help in interior defense. His ball handling, scoring, and lateral movement as a guard needs improvement for the college level.
Jose Flores 6-foot-3 G St Patrick St Vincent (2014): The senior was active and athletic on the floor. He seems to have another gear as he had a few steals, could elevate, and was hard to stop going to the basket. He has good size and quickness to be a point guard at the college level.
Ryan Stewart 6-foot-8 Post St Patrick St Vincent (2014): The junior displayed a few turnaround post moves to score. He needs bulk for college but has another year to do so as he will be the main rebounder for the Bruins in Jalen Canty's absence. His ball handling and face up scoring will need improvement but his current size as a junior will force some colleges to look at his potential.
Jonathan Boddie 6-foot-6 PF Central Catholic (2014): Boddie is undersized as a power forward but was the main offensive threat in the post for Central Catholic. He has good strength, length, and athleticism. With continued improvement for his ball handling and perimeter game, the senior can transition to the college game.
Curtis Witt 6-foot-0 G St. Francis (2016): Witt displayed good ball handling skills as he took the ball aggressively to the rim and was also comfortable in his perimeter scoring. Witt plays scrappy and smart for the Lancers.
Matt Tripaldi 5-foot-7 G St. Francis (2015): The junior is undersized at the guard position but was fearless in his shooting as he hit a few perimeter shots several feet from the line. Like Witt, Tripaldi plays aggressively and provides good pressure defense. The Lancers have a few other interchangeable guards to complement Tripaldi and Witt.
Eric Morgan 6-foot-8 PF St. Francis (2014): The senior was active on both ends of the court. He was the recipient of a few lob passes that he converted into easy layups. At the high school level, Morgan has enough height and size to dominate most teams but needs to either improve his size or his face up skills when moving to the college level.
Lance Coleman 6-foot-6 W St. Mary's (Stockton) (2015): A transfer from Salesian, Coleman showed potential with his size and skill set. He has a lengthy frame that helps him on the defensive end and has some nice moves to attack the basket. Coleman had eight points and five rebounds, but could develop a three-point jumper as he was 0-of-3 from deep.
Oscar Frayer 6-foot-6 F Moreau Catholic (2016): Frayer is an ultra-athletic sophomore who affects the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can finish above the rim or from mid-range which showed in 25 points (10-11 FG). On the defensive end, he blocks shots or corrals rebounds. He will be a highly coveted wing prospect due to his size, length, and athleticism. If he adds a perimeter game with a deep jumper and handle for the ball, Frayer will be one of the best in the country for his age.
Marcus Harris 6-foot-0 G St. Joseph Notre Dame (2015): Harris had nine points for St. Joe's on Saturday. He's a strong, fearless guard with a decent handle for the ball. He'll be a key piece for St. Joe's this season.
Brandon Lawrence 6-foot-2 SG Moreau Catholic (2016): Lawrence is a threat from three point range with a 3-of-6 showing from behind the arc. He has good length and an advanced jumper for his age. He'll need to add a couple inches to be a true shooting guard prospect, but still has plenty of time to add to his game.
Danny Mahoney 6-foot-0 G Serra (2014): Mahoney is a quick guard with a good handle and jump shot. He's crafty with a good motor.
Damari Milstead 6-foot-1 PG Moreau Catholic (2017): As a freshman point guard with good size and length, Milstead already has a good feel for the game. He can slash to the basket or knock down the open look from behind the arc. Milstead had 14 points (4-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) and six assists in Moreau's win. With an early offer from Cal, Milstead will be on the national radar for the upcoming seasons.
Armond Simmons 6-foot-0 PG Moreau Catholic (2016): Simmons is a strong, bulky floor general with a good handle for the ball. He gets his teammates involved, attacks the rim, and also had a three in the contest. Simmons finished with eight points, including five free throws, in addition to five rebounds and two assists.
Chiefy Ugbaja 6-foot-4 W Riordan (2014): The bouncy wing is a great athlete who can block shots or finish above the rim in transition. He had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Riordan and is a true get-it-done type of player.
Jiday Ugbaja 6-foot-0 PG Riordan (2014): Ugbaja is an explosive point guard with great vision and passing ability. He's an exceptional ball handler who can blow by defenders off the dribble. Ugbaja had 24 points (7-13 FG, 3-7 3FG), four assists, and three rebounds against St. Joe's. With offers from the Citadel, Tulane, and Sacramento State, Ugbaja will be a late steal.
Gabe Vincent 6-foot-3 G St. Mary's (Stockton) (2014): The UC Santa Barbara signee spent most of his time at point guard for St. Mary's which is a good sign due to his size. Vincent has shown improvement as a primary ball handler and distributor. He can create his own shot off the dribble or find his teammates for an open look. Vincent finished with 23 points (8-13 FG, 4-7 3FG), six rebounds, and three assists in the victory on Saturday. He'll be a good fit for the Gauchos as a knock-down shooter who can also get out and run in transition.
Sean Watkins 5-foot-10 SG Serra (2014): Watkins is a heady guard with range on his jump shot. He moves well without the ball and reads screens well. Watkins is signed with Loyola Marymount for baseball.
Devin Williams 5-foot-9 PG St. Mary's (Stockton) (2015): The junior point guard was key off the bench with nine points on 2-of-2 shooting.
He's quick and attacks the basket off the bounce. Williams does a good job getting to the free throw line but should add a jump shot from three-point range to improve.
Temidayo Yussuf 6-foot-7 F St. Joseph Notre Dame (2014): The Long Beach State signee looks much bigger than his listed size due to his bulk and broad shoulders. Yussuf is a terrific rebounder, which showed in his team-high 15 boards, and also has a face-up game. He was most dominant on the block and had the highlight of the day with a dunk over multiple defenders. Yussuf finished with 16 points and showed good hands to go with a soft touch.
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