Duke-bound point guard Kyrie Irving has done it again.
Irving earned MVP honors by posting 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals to lead St. Patrick to a 70-50 rout of Christian Brothers Academy in the Boardwalk Hoop Group showcase at Monmouth University’s Multipurpose Activity Center.
Irving had 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting in the first half as the Celtics (10-0) took a 40-17 lead.
“We knew we would struggle man-to-man because (Kyrie) Irving can’t be guarded by anyone man-to-man and also because of their size on the inside,” CBA coach Geoff Billet told The Asbury Park Press. “We wanted to mix the defenses up because we didn’t want to play zone the whole game. Our plan was to mix in box-and-1 and zone and switch back and forth.”
Junior Michael Gilchrist, playing his second game back since suffering a right knee strain, added 10 points and 12 rebounds and senior guard Kevin Boyle Jr. scored 14 points and dished 8 assists.
Ranked NO. 1 in the USA Today and ESPN polls, St. Patrick meets Findlay (Nev. ) Prep Monday on ESPNU.
HARRIS DROPS 35 AND 16
Tennessee-bound forward Tobias Harris dropped 35 points and 16 boards to lead Half Hollow Hill West to a 75-60 victory over Waterbury of Sacred Heart, Conn. at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.
“It was a great atmosphere out there,” Harris told MassLive.com. “We really came out and played well as a team. We handled business today.”
Former St. Benedict’s guard Tavon Sledge added 27 points for Half Hollow Hills.
Harris and his teammates next face Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin Monday night at the Big Apple Basketball Invitational at Baruch College in what should be an exciting tilt.
DAN FINN CLASSIC
**St. Anthony won a thriller, 67-64, over Jersey City rival St. Peter’s Prep in the Dan Finn Classic in Jersey City. Junior guard Myles Davis, who had been sidelined three games with a concussion, scored 23 points in the loss and St. John’s-bound forward Ronald Roberts added 17.
| No. 3 St. Anthony tops No. 4 St. Peter’s Prep in overtime |
** Rutgers-bound 6-8 F Gilvydas Biruta and senior guard Xavier Munford scored 17 points each as St. Benedict’s Prep hammered Academy of the New Church, 75-42, at the Dan Finn.
Mike Poole added 12 points and Texas-bound junior guard Myck Kabongo scored 10 point.
**Tyshon Pickett scored a game-high 21 points to lead Passaic, 58-51, over Ridge.
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