The Regis team entered the game calm and poised, despite arriving at the tournament later than scheduled. Two teammates, Luke Passannante '14 and Declan Cronin '15 served as Quest Retreat Leaders last week and did not return to Regis until after the end of the school day on Friday. Their teammates, not wanting the two to be separated from them, decided to wait at Regis late on Friday so that they could all travel together.
That camaraderie is part of the reason why the team, down 12-6 at the end of the first quarter and down 33-32 at the start of the fourth quarter, was nonetheless able to stick together and come back to win a tightly contested matchup.
The Regis Varsity team knows how to close out games under pressure. Saturday's comeback win was the third championship game in a row in which Regis was either tied or losing in the fourth quarter. In the New York City CHSAA Championship game on March 10, Regis faced overtime when the score was tied with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Then, in the New York State CHSAA Championship game on March 15, Regis found itself down 1 point with 5:58 to go in the fourth quarter, before mounting a thrilling come-from-behind win.
The Regis victory was the first loss suffered by Brooklyn Community Arts & Media this season. In today's championship game, Regis, the New York State Catholic High School B Division Champions, will face another undefeated challenger in Westhill, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B champions. Westhill is 26-0 and enters the game coming off a crushing 80-52 victory over Dwight to earn their spot in the title game.
For updates and scores during today's Federation Championship game, follow @RegisHighSchool on Twitter or read the posts made here: www.twitter.com/RegisHighSchool.
Read two recaps of Saturday's win:
Regis beats Brooklyn Community Arts & Media, 52-44, in state Federation Class B semifinals, will play for title Sunday | New York Daily News | March 22, 2014
Regis rallies to reach Federation 'B' final | MSG Varsity | March 22, 2014
Above: Luke Passanannte '14 drives to the basket during the 52-44 Regis victory over Brooklyn Community in a Federation Class B semifinal game on Saturday, March 22 in Albany, NY. Photo courtesy Philip Kamrass for the New York Daily News.
