Athletics

2004-05
XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Final State Ranking:

Hartford Courant #4

New Haven Register #5

Record: 24-3

TEAM HONORS

• State Division 1 Semi-Finalists
• Southern Connecticut Conference Champions (SCC)
• 1st Annual Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament Champions
• City of Middletown Champions

SEASON IN REVIEW

Regular Season

The 2004-05 Basketball season will be remembered as one of Xavier's finest ever. The team compiled an amazing final record of 24-3. The season opener against city rival Middletown took an unusual two days to complete. A city wide power outage with 5 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter meant Xavier would have to return to Middletown the following day to complete the 61-47 win. This win was Xavier's 5th in the 6 year history of the City Championship series between the schools.

Another early season highlight was the 1st Annual Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament. Xavier defeated division rival Notre Dame of West Haven and East Hartford defeated E.O. Smith to set up a great championship game. The title seemed a stretch as East Hartford ran out to a 33-10 second quarter lead. However, Juniors Amari Spievey, Chevar Rankins, and Chauncey Hardy led Xavier to what may be the biggest comeback win in school history. Xavier came all the way back to defeat East Hartford and win the championship 62-53.

The remainder of the regular season was highlighted by two outstanding performances against Wilbur Cross to sweep them for the first time in 8 years. The team was 18-2 during the regular season, losing twice to SCC Quinnipiac division foe Hamden. After losing to Hamden earlier in the year, the rematch was a great game in front of a raucous, sold out crowd, led by the "Kohs' Krazies" student section. Hamden came back to give Xavier its only home loss of the season late in the game by a score of 54-52. The outstanding regular season earned Xavier the #3 seed in the SCC tournament and the #6 seed in the Division I State Tournament.

SCC League Tournament

During the 11-year history of the SCC, Xavier has enjoyed great success in the league tournament and this year was no different. In the Quarterfinal, the Falcons jumped out to a 42-28 halftime lead and cruised to a 72-55 victory over sixth-seeded Sheehan. Xavier was led by Chevar Rankins (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Chauncey Hardy (team-high 18 points). Xavier is now an amazing 8-0 in SCC quarterfinal contests. In the semifinal, junior Amari Spievey scored 24 points, including two clutch free throws with 17 seconds remaining, to give the Falcons a 56-53 win over second-seeded Hillhouse.

Chevar Rankins added 14 points and Chauncey Hardy 12 for Xavier, which earned its fifth (and second straight) berth in the SCC title game. The third time was indeed the charm for the Xavier Falcons. After losing twice to Hamden in the regular-season, third-seeded Xavier held off the top-seeded Green Dragons, 58-50, to win the 2005 SCC Boys Basketball Championship before a jam-packed and enthusiastic crowd at East Haven High School. Chauncey Hardy was named tournament MVP, scoring 17 points and adding six rebounds and five assists. Mike Miazga added 14 points and Chevar Rankins 12 for Xavier. It is the Falcons' fourth SCC title - 1995, 1997, 2001, and 2005. Only Wilbur Cross (5) has won more SCC championships in the 11-year history of the Conference; quite an accomplishment considering the size of the league (21 member schools).

State Tournament

Xavier was the #6 seed in the Division I State Tournament and began play by defeating Bulkeley 51-44. The second round game brought the Northwest Conference Champion and #10 ranked Northwest Catholic to Xavier. The Falcons continued to play outstanding basketball and defeated Northwest in a well-played game, 90-71. In the State Quarterfinals, Chauncey Hardy dished out 14 assists and Amari Spievey added 17 points to defeat perennial state power Harding of Bridgeport 56-52.

In the semifinals, Xavier matched up with the state's #1 ranked and undefeated Crosby from Waterbury. Xavier gave Crosby its biggest scare of the season to that point, by trimming Crosby's lead to six with 4 minutes to go. However, eventual state champion Crosby proved too much for the falcons and ended Xavier's season one game short of the ultimate goal, 78-65.

Future

Head Coach Michael Kohs, and his assistants Art Kohs and Michael Papale, received key contributions from numerous players throughout the season especially seniors Michael Miazga, Chris Nettis, and team captain Nick Corsetti. Xavier's future looks bright as the falcons will return 9 varsity letter winners for the 2005-06 season.

Individual Honors

CHAUNCEY HARDY (6ft Jr. Pt Guard)

• 2005 C.H.S.C.A Class "LL" 1st Team All-State
• 2005 New Haven Register - 1st Team All-State
• 2005 Hartford Courant - 1st Team All-State
• 2005 New Haven Basketball Tap Off Club Team
• 2005 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
• 2005 SCC Tournament MVP
• 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
• Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament - All Tourney Team

AMARI SPIEVEY (6ft 1 Jr. Guard)

• 2005 New Haven Register - 2nd Team All State
• 2005 Hartford Courant - All State Honorable Mention
• 2005 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
• 2004 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
• 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
• Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament - MVP

CHEVAR RANKINS (6ft 2 Jr. Forward)

• Team Captain
• 2005 New Haven Register - Honorable Mention All-State
• 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
• Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament - All Tourney Team

MICHAEL MIAZGA (6ft 7 Sr. Center)

• 2005 Middletown Press All Area - 2nd Team

Team Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Defensive Player of the Year: Arthur M. Kohs Coaches Award: Senior Award:

Chauncey Hardy Amari Spievey Chevar Rankins Nick Corsetti

FRONT ROW (L-R): Mark Micowski, Michael Papale, Nick Corsetti, Chevar Rankins, Nick Greenwood, Courtney Simmons, Chris Nettis

BACK ROW (L-R): Head Coach Michael Kohs, Andrew Parks, Michael Miazga, Stephen Faulkner, Kevin Bolasevich, Chauncey Hardy, Amari Spievey, Asst. Art Kohs, Asst. Michael Papale