Article by Phoenix writer Nicholas Cortese ’23:
The hottest JV Boys Basketball team on Long Island has done it again. It is only fitting that the Firebirds close their season on a flaming 11 game win streak. Fans assembled from the Bird’s Nest and flocked to St. Dominic’s to witness the end to the epic season.
Kellenberg faced off against powerhouse St. Anthony’s to determine who would be crowned league champion. In common firebird fashion, the boys exerted tenacious energy on both sides of the court. Lockdown defenders made the Friar floor generals look like utter liabilities and the offensive firepower led to easy meaningful buckets for Kellenberg.
The game entered clutch time, and hearts throughout the St. Dominic’s gym skipped a beat. The squads were in the midst of a back and forth battle that only one team could come out victorious. Blood, sweat, and tears rained onto the hardwood as the boys fought as hard as they ever had. The clock ticked like a time bomb as the seconds dwindled away. The sound of the whistle rang throughout the crowd, and the scoreboard read 45-43 with the Firebirds reigning victorious. The gym was ecstatic, and the players reflected that notion. Team captain, Brenden Gharagozlo, stated, “The championship meant a lot to me but especially the team. We put in countless hours on and off the court and were dedicated to winning above all else and it paid off.”
From an analytical standpoint, this year’s roster was borderline unstoppable. Kellenberg stands alone atop the league standings at 14-0, and their overall record of 20-3 is mirrored in their dominant box scores. Despite the season’s magical storybook ending, the Firebirds fought their fair share of close battles.
For the final match of the regular season, the boys faced off against Holy Trinity in what at the time was the most important game of their Firebird careers. They marched onto the court knowing their fate as an undefeated #1 seed rested in the results of this battle. Kellenberg faced a deficit early due to multiple key pieces falling into foul trouble. In the second half, however, the Firebirds stormed back, led by the performances of Brenden Gharagozlo and Carson Fessler to a 57-53 victory over the Titans.
Later that week, fans were blessed with a first round playoff matchup between the greatest rivalry in high school sports: Kellenberg versus Chaminade. Firebird Nation returned to their home court for a win-or-go-home skirmish. The home fans erupted as their team went up 9 points early behind a 23 point scoring eruption from Jack Geoghan. As the game entered clutch time, the gritty Flyers pushed back into the lead. Many other teams would have faltered and given up, but not the Firebirds. A lay-up by Matthew Connolly and two crucial free throws from Stephen Kiernan placed Kellenberg atop the scoreboard at 63-60 and in the championship game.
Kellenberg’s playoff run was one for the history books. On paper, few teams have done what the Firebirds have, but from a chemistry perspective, there is none quite like them. Head Coach, Mr. O’Brien, commemorated the boys and their passions for ball. “The one thing that set them apart was their will to win. They were a group who truly hated to lose and worked as hard as possible and did whatever it took to make sure that it did not happen,” Coach O’Brien said. “Like steel being forged in the fire, this team was tested each and every game, but in the end it only made them stronger and more resilient. It made them ready for what they are today: champions.”