CHSAA boys basketball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down Sunday’s Class A intersectional final between Cardinal Hayes and Mount St. Michael.
Who: Cardinal Hayes vs. Mount St. Michael
What: CHSAA Class A intersectional title game
When: Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Rose Hill Gym, Fordham University
To follow The Post’s live blog, click here
Cardinal Hayes Cardinals
Head coach: Joe Lods
Record: 21-5
Player to watch: Amadou Sidibe
Scouting report from a league coach under condition of anonymity: “Hayes has to get second and third shots. They’re a transition team, but they have to play under control. They can score 20 points in a bundle, but they can also let Mount score points in a bundle. Hayes has to keep Peter [Aguilar] under control, but more importantly if Mount’s guards can score, it’s going to be a long day for Hayes.
Sidibe is going to be tough to control on the boards, but the other big kid [Jalen] Jenkins I think is key because he’s got range to 10-15 feet and Mount doesn’t have size to cover both of those guys. If Jenkins plays a little under control, gets the shots he wants, doesn’t try to go crazy from 3-point range, they’re going to give Mount problems.”
Mount St. Michael Mountaineers
Head coach: Tom Fraher
Record: 25-1
Player to watch: Pete Aguilar
Scouting report from a league coach under condition of anonymity: “Their guards are extremely quick, they handle the ball well, and they shoot the ball really well, which I think is going to be a key to the game. If they can get their shots off, they’re going to make life difficult for Hayes. Peter is Peter. They’re going to put [Fadil] Yacoubou on him and he’s done a nice job on him in two games. If Peter can score and get to the hoop, they’ll be fine.
Since [Brandon] Cunningham got hurt, I think Mount has actually gotten better. They’re more guard-oriented, they’re quicker, rely more on the 3. But they’re going to have to keep the Hayes guys off the boards. That’s a key for Mount. If they don’t keep them off the boards and allow Hayes second shots, I think Mount is going to have a hard time.”
Outlook: For 68 years, Bronx gridiron bragging rights have been decided on Thanksgiving morning between fierce rivals Mount St. Michael and Cardinal Hayes.
On Sunday at Rose Hill Gym, the battle is on the basketball court, but there’s much more than bragging rights at stake. The winner takes home the Class A intersectional title.
Hayes is looking to win its first championship since 2007 when the Cardinals defeated Mount. The Mountaineers last won in 2006, ironically beating Hayes in that game.
Fittingly, the two teams split the regular season, each holding serve at home. Hayes handed Mount its lone loss, ending a 20-game winning streak on Feb. 8.
“They think they’re the best team and we think we’re the best team,” Hayes coach Joe Lods said. “Let’s settle it.”
In Mount’s 60-50 win on Jan. 11, Brandon Cunningham had a career day for the Mountaineers, which turned a one-point game into a rout with a devastating 17-0 run after Hayes guard Davon Sylvester fouled out with 5:45 left in the fourth.
In the return game at Hayes, Amadou Sidibe was a beast inside, scoring 27 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in a 78-67 victory. The Cardinals built up a 19-point lead, but Mount rallied in the fourth, pulling to within four before Hayes closed it out.
“People were telling me after the game that Mount did such a great job coming back in the game, but Mount was about three possessions from getting blown out of our gym,” Lods said. “I hope [Mount] coach [Tom] Fraher realizes that was close to extended garbage time as Marv Albert would say. He’s going to tell them that we had them and we have to play hard and I’m going to tell my guys we were three possessions away from me taking a nap on the bench.”
In both games, Fadil Yacoubou did a solid job limiting Mount star Pete Aguilar and he’ll again draw that assignment. Conversely, Aguilar will guard 6-foot-7 Jalen Jenkins and Mount’s Omari Manhertz will be tasked with trying to keep Sidibe in check.
“We have to defend them and really try to keep the guards in front of us and limit Sidibe rebounding the ball,” Fraher said. “We’re really going to have to do a good job from the 3-point line and in keeping them in front of us and I really want to limit their fast-break opportunities.”
A year ago, Hayes lost to Stepinac in the title game. But the Cardinals are a year older and believe that experience is an advantage.
Not surprisingly, Fraher doesn’t subscribe to that theory. He said his team has played in front of big crowds all year long so they won’t be intimidated by their surroundings.
“It’s a rivalry game,” Mount guard Clarence White said. “It’s going to be crazy, a great game.”
That’s about the only thing the rivals agree upon.
“We know it’s a big game, we know about the Hayes and Mount rivalry,” Sidibe said. “We know on Sunday we have to come out and represent Hayes.”