A nice start to the season

By Greg Gulas

Mooney offense in high gear in 85-72 win over Campbell

Jeff Chahine scored 23 points for the Cardinals, who took control in the third quarter.

CAMPBELL — Given the events surrounding the Cardinal Mooney High family this past week, a basketball game was probably the prescription everyone needed in order to help regain their focus, both athletically and in everyday life.

Coming of the emotional high of a seventh state football title this past weekend, only to have it tempered less than 48 hours later by the sad loss of students and classmates Jamie Serich and Colin Hart, the Cardinals made their return to action a successful one in their season lidlifter at Campbell Memorial High.

Jeff Chahine scored 23 points, including 12 straight points on four buckets from beyond the arc during a 1:32 stretch of the third quarter, turning a 53-52 deficit into a 64-55 lead as he helped the Cardinals to an 85-72 victory over the Red Devils Friday at the Nicholas A. D’Amato Field House.

“It was a very emotional week, not only for the basketball team but the entire school as we lost two very good friends,” Chahine said. “We knew that we had two guardian angels looking down on us and we played as a team; just how they both would have wanted us to play.

“We rotated 10 players all night because we felt right from the start that we would have to run with them. Pushing the ball up the court was a big part of our success.

Chahine credited his teammates for his success.

“They got me the ball at the right moment the entire game. I could not have enjoyed the success that I did tonight if it weren’t for their help,” Chahine stated.

The Red Devils reeled off the first five points of the game and built a 17-9 lead at the midway point of the opening quarter.

Chahine’s first triple of the game and three points from Eddie Reese, however, helped key a 7-0 run as the Cardinals cut the Red Devils margin to 19-18 at the quarter.

John Stoops, one of seven football players that dot head coach Chris Kohl’s roster this season, scored seven of his 18 points in the second frame as the Cards outscored the Red Devils 24-18 in the period to forge a 42-37 halftime advantage.

With his team trailing 53-52 at the 2:07 mark of the third period, Chahine became a one-man wrecking crew as he canned four straight missiles from beyond the arc, the last one connecting with just 20 seconds remaining as Cardinal Mooney built a 64-55 margin with just eight minutes remaining.

“Jeff [Chahine] really worked hard all summer long; lifting weights, running and shooting and just doing all the little things necessary in order to become a better player,” Cardinal coach Chris Kohl. “Hard work really does pay off.”

A Tom Beck 3-pointer at the 5:49 mark of the final period gave the Cardinals (1-0) their largest lead at 72-58.

The Red Devils cut the lead to 79-70 with 1:51 remaining on two Claxton Lebron’s free throws, but it was too little, too late as the Red Devils (0-1) wound up on the short end.

Stoops added 18 points for the Cardinals with Beck and Ryan Gallagher each adding 10 points apiece for Cardinal Mooney.

Campbell’s Nate Hodge tied Chahine for game-high honors with 23 points while Jerah’me Williams (18 points), Lester Hughes (13 points) and Lebron (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Red Devils.

Kohl admitted it was an emotional week at the school.

“To say that it was an emotional week is an understatement,” he said. “Our guys had Jamie [Serich] and Colin [Hart] in their hearts.

“Tonight’s game came at the right time. We had a team meeting as to whether or not to play, or just reschedule the game for a later date and the one comment from everyone was that they wanted to get back to normal as soon as possible. This team has no prima donnas. They are all connected and they all care about one another; both on and off the court.”