Sports

Lucky 7: Moore stays perfect, sets school record in victory over Farrell

Mark Fiorello knew his team was in for a good year even before it started. But perfect through seven games and looking like one of the best teams on Staten Island? That he wasn’t sure about.

“It’s just the atmosphere in the locker room and with the team,” the Moore Catholic junior shooting guard said. “From last year to this year, we’re a family. We’re always around each other. When we’re winning, there’s nothing better than winning.”

The Mavericks are doing plenty of that.

Moore’s 61-51 win at Monsignor Farrell in non-league boys basketball Tuesday night marked a school-record seventh straight victory. It was also a second consecutive win over one of Staten Island’s Class AA clubs after the Mavericks edged St. Peter’s, 49-47, on Friday night.

Moore (7-0) was voted third best in the borough in the preseason, making it an ‘A’ team in the CHSAA’s restructured format. But legendary coach Tony Rafaniello puts very little stock in classifications and designations.

“You know what?” Staten Island’s all-time wins leader said. “They throw the ball up. There’s two guys with a striped shirt. They got five, we got five. Whoever plays better wins.”

That has been the Mavericks every single time this year and Tuesday was no different. Farrell (2-4) was within 40-39 with 2:36 left in the third quarter after a Jason Murphy (15 points) basket. But Moore used a 7-0 run that stretched into the fourth quarter to make it 47-39 with 6:59 left.

After Murphy ended the run with a jumper, Fiorello provided something of a dagger, a 3-pointer with 6:03 left. Farrell wouldn’t make another field goal until there was 1:20 remaining.

Rafaniello actually thought it was Fiorello’s defense on point guard Steve Steyer in the second half that turned the game. Moore led just 32-30 at the break when the coach moved the speedy, athletic Fiorello off Connor Nicholson and onto Steyer.

“That forced them to play a little bit faster and I think the increased tempo helped us,” Rafaniello said.

Defense has been Moore’s calling card all season. This was the first time a team scored 50 against the Mavericks. Balance has also been a key, which was the case again Tuesday. Fiorello had 16 points, John Baggs had 15 points, Jordan Sanders had 11 points and Scott Schaefer added 10.

“If I’m not playing well, I know Baggs will pick me up,” Fiorello said. “If Baggs isn’t playing well, Scott’s gonna pick it up or Frank’s (Schettino) gonna pick it up. … We get quality minutes from everyone.”

The culture has certainly changed at Moore. It’s been awhile since the Mavericks could say they were among the Island’s elite. Now they might be second best only to Curtis. Rafaniello fully expects to compete for a CHSAA Class A intersectional title.

“It’s going to take a team that can physically prevent us from doing what we’re capable of doing to beat us,” he said. “If they can’t do that, then we have a shot to beat anybody.”

All this winning has created a buzz on Staten Island. Fiorello hopes that translates into some players coming into the program in the near future.

“Hopefully kids start noticing, come play for Coach Raf,” he said. “Me and Baggs leave, hopefully we get some solid players in. Some 6-5 guys maybe. Put that word out there.”

Moore has certainly done its part by starting the season as hot as any team in the CHSAA.

“After the first couple of games,” Baggs said, “we expect to win now.”

mraimondi@nypost.com