‘Diverse’ CYO Classic won a by public school

    CYO Director John Smestad looked at the Allstate Sugar Bowl-sponsored Classic program, then turned to me and said, “You can’t say we’re not diverse.”
    This year’s 60th prep basketball classic, the longest continuously running tournament of its kind in the Louisiana, did indeed have a diverse array of competing schools.
    What began in 1950 to determine the best of the city’s four Catholic high school basketball teams has grown to include area public and private schools as well.
    And the product of that diversity was East Jefferson emerging as champion by defeating Brother Martin, 55-45, on Dec. 7 in the title game.
    The Warriors’ championship win was the school’s first since 1993.
    It’s no longer about which is the best Catholic school basketball team in town. Last year the champion was Newman, ending a two-year run by St. Augustine.
    Both of this year’s championship contenders were coached by St. Mary Magdalen and Loyola University schoolmates, Ryan Dicharry of East Jeff and Chris Biehl of Brother Martin.
    Their teams rose above the 16-team field after three nights of competition.
    East Jefferson, a Class 4A public school, was superior. Its No. 1 player, Shaquille Preston, was a clear choice for Most Valuable Player.
    The CYO also honored a past MVP, Donald Gunalda, whose performance in 1961 was so dominant that the voting coaches named the 6-3 forward the top player in the tournament even though his Redemptorist team finished in fourth place.
    The tournament is an early gauge of how the Catholic League (District 9-5A) will play out.
    The district may not produce a Class 5A state champion, but it will, as always, be competitive.
How they’ll finish
    1. Brother Martin – This team’s greatest asset is not necessarily the starting unit. It’s the Crusaders’ depth that is impressive. Biehl has some young, talented players who will see a large number of minutes on the court.
    With Craig Victor’s departure from St. Augustine, the MVP honor appears to be a battle between Martin’s Jordan Cornish and Holy Cross’  Greg White-Pittman. But both will have to blend with the teammates better.
    There are big guys up front in the form of William Clapp, Brendon Hayes and Logan Macaluso. And they will improve as the season progresses to give Martin even more assets.
    2. Jesuit – Ball movement and defense have been the subject of veteran coach Chris Jennings’ homilies to his athletes over the years.
    This team has three players capable of making big plays. The best of the Blue Jays is forward Trey LaForge, a gifted junior forward.
    The Blue Jays can count on Riley Conroy and Paul Kohnke to play fundamentally sound ball. And LaForge should get help inside from Foster Moreau in the post.
    3. St. Augustine – This team is capable of winning the district but will have to find a way to win without Victor, who transferred to a Las Vegas prep school in the offseason.
    The Purple Knights have some height inside that could evolve into capable scorers around the goal.
    Their greatest asset is senior Brice Washington, who gives the team much of its stability.
    4. Abp. Rummel – Coach Troy Holley won’t have a full complement of players until Monday following the State Farm Prep Classic football championships this weekend.
    A half dozen of his key players were still playing football.
    But when they get their basketball legs under them, the Raiders will be one of the teams to watch this season.
    5. Holy Cross – First-year head coach Mister Kirkwood has taken on the task of molding a group of players with various  degrees of experience into a cohesive unit.
    The Tigers’ No. 1 player, White-Pittman, was on the shelf during the CYO tournament because of a deep cut near his right elbow.
    When he returns, the Crossmen will have their scoring punch back. But Kirkwood knows that White-Pittman will also have to involve his teammates in the offense and not try to win games by himself.
    6, Abp. Shaw – Second-year mentor John Quilter is looking to develop consistency as his Eagles enter a highly competitive district.
    Like Rummel and Holy Cross, he is trying to blend players fresh from football into the offense. A difficult task up to now.
    Ron Brocato can be reached at [email protected].

CLASSIC SCOREBOARD