Boys Basketball: Albertus Magnus Crushes Irvington to Reach Section 1 Finals

Tyler Sayre, an all-county selection as a sophomore last year, was sucking in rebounds as if he were a giant among men. Seemingly, the ball would go up and out, off the mark, or in and out, and there he was grabbing yet another carom from out of a gaggle of arms.

The Albertus Magnus standout formed a potent 1-2 punch with guard Pat McGuinness Wednesday night, leading the No. 2 seed Falcons past No. 6 Irvington, 62-37, in the Section 1 Class B semifinals at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

Albertus Magnus, which hasn’t won a sectional crown since 1994, meets an even-more deprived Dobbs Ferry team on Saturday at 5 p.m. in the championship game. Dobbs Ferry, the No. 4 seed, hasn’t carried the distinctive hardware since 1967. The Eagles earned their title shot in the early game Wednesday night, defeating No. 8 Hastings, 57-41.

Albertus is now 17-4; Irvington finishes at 14-7.

Sayre finished with a game-high 20 rebounds, seven in the first period alone as the Falcons soared ahead 12-2, as Irvington misfired on its first 18 shots from the floor. Behind Sayre and McGuinness, who totaled 23 points with 10 rebounds and four assists, and an ever-changing, confusing defense, Albertus Magnus opened a 32-14 lead at intermission.

“We’ve gotten down before and came back (to win), but this time it was too many (points),” said Irvington coach Mike Auerbach. “When you get down early, even though it’s early, sometimes you take shots you shouldn’t.”

The Bulldogs did mount a comeback of sorts to open the second half, but in comparison to the way they were missing in the first half, even so-called chippies, it seemed as if they were outscoring the Falcons at a greater rate than it was in reality.

Chris Brennan, who scored 17 points, put in a rebound, and then a long-range left-side jumper to make it 32-19. Later, Brennan put in another from the left side to make it 38-22. Irvington had the ball again, and needed a big basket to keep the momentum, but—you guessed it—there was Sayre with another key rebound.

 “We won, and I’m very happy with that,” said Albertus Magnus coach Pat McFadden. Asked about the influence of Irvington’s poor start, he added “It certainly didn’t hurt. It was a tough atmosphere, and we answered the call.”

After Irvington made its move, drawing to within 14 at 39-25, Parris Purcelle—a standout player who was limited to seven points--missed two free throws. On the second miss, the omnipresent Mr. Sayre was there to scoop up the rebound, which led to a nifty drive, bank shot and basket by Mr. McGuinness.

When Ryan Cooper sank a 3-pointer, McGuinness answered with another back-breaking basket for a 41-28 lead. After three periods, it was 43-28.

The bucket that sealed the deal was a 3-point shot by Arnelle Danridge that opened a 50-31 advantage.

“Every time we did something (to get back) they responded,” noted Auerbach. “Sayre and McGuinness are both outstanding players, but McGuinness … when we had a good defensive possession, he would create something in the last five seconds of the shot clock, and when we got back (in the game) he made a lot of key plays.”

As for Sayre, Auerbach was equally praiseworthy. “Inside and outside, there’s not a lot we could do with him. He seems to gather everything that comes his way, or even near him.”

McGuinness, who will be back next season along with Sayre, deflected whatever credit he deserved to his teammates.

“I mean, we played good defense. Kyle Sullivan and Danridge played tight defense; they stopped their two best players (Purcelle, Brennan),” McGuinness said.

As for playing with the irrepressible Sayre, McGuinness was effusive in his praise.

“Every time I miss, he goes and gets it,” he said. “He knows how to play basketball.”

Like his teammate, Sayre credited his team’s defensive effort.

“We did what we had to do,” Sayre said. “Our defense disrupted them. Our defense confused them—man or zone, they couldn’t tell. And we attached the rim, obviously.”

“We threw a lot of everything at them,” offered Coach McFadden. “Our defense had a lot to do with it (Irvington’s poor start). That was probably the key to the game.”

Now the Falcons turn their attention to Dobbs Ferry, so close to the title they can virtually taste the flavor.

  “The opportunity—it’s knocking on the door for them, and they can do it,” said McFadden, whose last title with the Falcons came as an assistant to the current athletic director, Joe McGuinness.

McGuinness the Younger also hears opportunity knocking.

 “Even in the beginning of the year that was our goal, to win the section,” McGuinness said. “We’re capable of it; that’s the most important thing right now as a team.”

Free throws

• Auerbach, in his first year as head coach at Irvington, was no stranger to the County Center. Auerbach, an assistant at Briarcliff for four years, noted that the Bears won the Class B title in his first year, and lost in the final the following year. Asked if he’ll be back next year, the gracious Auerbach replied “I’ll be back, but we have a lot seniors; I don’t know if we’ll be back here (semifinals at the County Center).”
• Irvington was held scoreless until Purcelle hit two free throws with 2:59 left in the first period. But in a portend of what was to come on an off-night, Purcelle later made a steal at mid-court, drove alone to the basket, and missed a dunk attempt. Then Ryan O’Donnell came up with a steal, tried to roll it in and missed. It was that kind of night for the Bulldogs.
• Sayre had 16 rebounds going into the last period.