Boys Basketball: Clauberg’s alma mater thumps his Mercy team
COLONIAL CLASSIC | COLONIALS 72, MONARCHS 46
Mike Clauberg is treated like a celebrity when he returns to his alma mater, William Floyd High School, where he played for a Suffolk County championship boys basketball team in 1993-94. As welcoming as the Colonials are to Clauberg upon his return to the site of his glory days, they aren’t so kind to the Bishop McGann-Mercy team that he coaches.
William Floyd handed the Monarchs a rough introduction to the 2014-5 season on Thursday, thrashing them, 72-46, in the first round of the 26th annual Colonial Classic. Floyd won convincingly, despite shooting 0 for 11 from the field in the third quarter.
The score was 19-3 before the first quarter ended. The result was never really in doubt after that in a season-opening contest for both teams that pitted two former high school teammates against each other. Clauberg and Floyd’s coach, Rob Hodgson Jr., both played for the Colonials under the guidance of their legendary coach, the late Rob Hodgson Sr.
Both teams are coming off rough seasons. The Monarchs went 4-14 last season, and the Colonials went 3-15.
The speedy Colonials received 21 points and 9 rebounds from their star player, senior Devonte Dixon. Altogether, 11 Colonials made it into the scoring column.
The Monarchs were led by Kevin Santacroce, who dropped four 3-point shots and scored 22 points. Nick Kneski added 11.
Floyd is noticeably improved, but the Monarchs saw that they have a lot of work to do, nonetheless. Their foul shooting — 7 of 22 — was abysmal. They were outrebounded, 38-23, and turned the ball over 26 times.
Floyd will play for its third straight tournament title against Lindenhurst or Rocky Point on Saturday night. McGann-Mercy will play the other one of those teams in the consolation game earlier in that day.
