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By Mike Morton
Brooklyn Daily
The Xaverian boys basketball team honored its six graduating seniors before Friday night’s game, but the good feelings did not last long as the Clippers fell behind early and could not recover in a 59–43 home loss to Cardinal Hayes.
Xaverian (13–9, 6–9) never got comfortable against Hayes’ fast pace and tough defense.
“We didn’t handle their pressure,” Xaverian coach Jack Alesi said. “It took us out of what we were trying to do offensively.”
Xaverian senior co-captain George Lambert did all he could early. He scored all of his team-high 14 points in the first half.
But Cardinal Hayes controlled the tempo, forcing Xaverian to speed up their offense, and turnovers began to pile up. The Clippers could not match the pace and struggled to defend the explosive offense of Hayes (16–6, 6–1), whose Junior guard Shavar Newkirk scored a game-high 24 points.
“We were never able to take control of the game,” Alesi said.
Game notes
The loss will leave a bad memory for the six graduating seniors’ on Senior Night before they head into the diocesan playoffs. Prior to the game, they were honored in a ceremony in which they each received a framed photo of themselves as a memento of their careers at Xaverian, which was a touching moment for some.
“I feel like it’s very emotional, because I feel like I don’t want my high school career to end,” Lambert said. “I feel like I left a lot behind here, because when I was younger, as a freshman I was a baby. This school shaped me into the man I am today.”
Alesi also praised his graduating seniors. Ppeaking like a proud father bragging about his boys, Alesi said he is happy to see how far this senior class has come as individuals.
“You honor the seniors because they really do things the right way,” Alesi said. “To me that far exceeds winning or losing a game.”