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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.

After ending St. Anthony’s 83-game winning streak in dramatic fashion Friday night, St. Benedict’s Prep could have easily suffered a letdown 24 hours later.

The Gray Bees (20-1), ranked No. 5 in the USA Today poll, had to turn around and play Cape Henry Collegiate (Va.) on Saturday in Atlantic City.

But they didn’t stumble and instead handled Cape Henry, 78-58, behind 20 points from sophomore guard Isaiah Briscoe, 19 points and 13 rebounds from Pitt-bound forward Mike Young and 19 points from Syracuse-bound point guard Tyler Ennis.

Old Dominion commit Denzell Taylor added 11 rebounds.

Cape Henry fell to 19-2 on the season.


Jermaine Lawrence
pulled the trigger on his 18th birthday.

The 6-foot-10 Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII forward announced on tumblr that he’s headed to Cincinnati over St. John’s and UNLV.

“My family and I would like to thank all the schools that showed interest,” he wrote. “I’m humble[d] to have had the experience of being recruited.

“After a long discussion with my parents, I’ve decided I’ll be attending the University of Cincinnati!!!!!
I’m excited to be apart of #BearcatNation

http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25584265

NEW YORK — As a six-time NBA All-Star, Amar’e Stoudemire confesses winning  Sixth Man of the Year honors was never on his mind.

“I never thought about the Sixth Man of the Year ever in my career,” he said after putting up a season-best 21 points as the Knicks routed the Sacramento Kings, 120-81, at MSG. “But it may be a possibility.”

If Stoudemire keeps up this level of play, he may challenge Jamal Crawford of the Clippers and teammate J.R. Smith for consideration for the award.

NEW YORK — Mike Woodson says he already has plans to head to a warm-weather climate over NBA All-Star weekend.

But he may have to change those plans and head to Houston if the Miami Heat lose at Toronto on Sunday.

“I want him to cancel the plans,” Knicks All-Star center Tyson Chandler said after putting up 11 points and 20 rebounds in the Knicks’ 120-81 rout of the Sacramento Kings at MSG. “He can find a golf course in Houston.”

NEW YORK — Thomas Robinson says there’s no doubt that Kansas would’ve beaten Kentucky in the NCAA championship game last April in New Orleans had redshirt freshman guard Ben McLemore been eligible.

“Definitely,” Robinson, the rookie out of Kansas averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, told SNY.tv before his Sacramento Kings met the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“We lost in the last game so that’s pretty much it. He would’ve helped us win it.”

The 6-foot-10 Robinson had 18 points and 17 boards in the title game, but Kentucky beat Kansas, 67-59.

The 6-5 McLemore, then a true freshman, was ruled ineligible prior to the season.

NEWARK — P.J. Carlesimo’s former Seton Hall players want his interim tag removed and would like to see him become the Nets’ full-time coach.

“I hope they actually keep him,” said Jerry Walker, a member of the 1992-93 Seton Hall team that was honored during Saturday’s 65-59 loss to Cincinnati.

“He deserves the opportunity. He’s doing a really good job and getting great reviews and hopefully they can keep him.”

Carlesimo addressed the crowd at the Prudential Center at halftime one night after the Nets beat the Bulls, 93-89, to improve to 14-5 on his watch.

NEWARK — Seton Hall honored its 1992-93 team on Saturday afternoon, which only served to underscore how far away the current team is from those glory days.

The ’93 team — coached by current Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo and starring players like Terry Dehere and Jerry Walker — began the season 14-1, went 28-7, and won the Big East regular season and tournament titles before being bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Western Kentucky.

That Western Kentucky team was coached by Ralph Willard, whose son, Kevin Willard, now coaches the Pirates.

After his team lost to Cincinnati, 65-59, to fall to 13-9, 2-7 in the Big East, the younger Willard seemed at a loss to explain his team’s struggles.

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