UPDATE: In an electrifying Saturday of high school basketball, standout performances from Chris Albano and Nick Rebracca propelled their teams to crucial victories on January 6, 2024, in Staten Island.
In Sea View, Chris Albano led the Susan Wagner Falcons to a thrilling 63-55 comeback win over New Dorp. Albano scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the final quarter, showcasing his clutch performance under pressure. The Falcons improved their record to 10-2 overall, while New Dorp fell to 6-4.
Albano’s late-game heroics included a pivotal three-point play and hitting 5 of 7 free throws in crunch time. His teammates contributed significantly, with Darin Humes-James and Adem Djonbalic adding 13 and 11 points, respectively. Head coach Danny Lanigan praised the team’s resilience, stating, “We did enough at the end to win it,” despite noting that they need improvements moving forward.
Meanwhile, in Huguenot, Nick Rebracca shined for the Sea Vikings, scoring a career-high 28 points in a dominant 73-52 victory over Salesian. Rebracca nailed a season-high six three-pointers, leading his team to a commanding early lead. With this win, the Vikings improved to 5-2 in league play and 6-2 overall.
The Vikings set the tone with a stifling defense, allowing only 4 points in the first quarter. Rebracca, along with Nick Lee and Luca Mineo, who each added 10 points, ensured that Salesian never recovered from the early deficit.
In further action, the Taylor Allderdice Dragons edged St. Peter’s Eagles in Pittsburgh with a 52-45 victory. Senior Nico Parlanti led the Eagles with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough as they dropped to 2-4 for the season.
WHEELS also secured a strong win against Eagle Academy with a final score of 61-43, showcasing a solid defensive effort that saw them pull away in the second half.
As high school basketball heats up, all eyes will be on these teams as they strive for the top spots in their respective leagues. Fans can expect more thrilling matchups in the coming weeks, particularly as these players continue to shine on the court.
