February 18, 2007

Bears Capture First-Ever Hudson Valley Conference Championship!

HVMAC Tournament MVP - JT Matzelle

For the past four seasons, St. Joseph's has been the elite team of the Hudson Valley Conference, winning the regular season crown each year. However, when it came to the post-season tournament, they repeatedly came up short. In 2005, the Bears traveled to Kingston, New York where they would meet host Bard College in the championship game. After taking a 1-point lead with 22 seconds to play, the Bears played a great defensive sequence, only to lose by one on an off-balance jumper as time expired. In 2006 and 2007, the Bears cruised to the final where they would meet a very talented Berkeley College squad. In 2006, after defeating Berkeley twice in the regular season, the Bears were stunned losing 74-68. Last season, the Bears again defeated Berkeley twice in the regular season, only to drop their second 1-point decision in three years, losing 94-93 in overtime.

In this year's tournament at Pratt Institute, the Bears would meet Berkeley in the final again, but unlike in the past, they would leave nothing to chance. After playing to a 33-33 halftime tie, the Bears stormed out of the gate in the second half opening up a 49-35 lead. Berkeley did not go quietly however, closing to within 56-52 with under 4 minutes to play. The Bears then went on a furious run started off by a Chris Olaskiewicz put-back, a JT Matzelle basket off a pretty feed from Ervin Maddox, then a Maddox 3-point play that gave the Bears a 63-52 lead. The Bears closed the game out at the foul line winning 74-54, taking their first-ever championship in the HVC.

Senior Chris Olaskiewicz named to All Tournament Team

In the tournament semifinal, the Bears rolled over Sarah Lawrence College 90-66 led by the all around play of Matzelle who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds and Przemyslaw Kudla who was spectacular as well, scoring 11 points while dishing out a career-high 11 assists, and grabbing 5 rebounds. Larry Fawcett torched the nets for 26 points, shooting 7 of 10 from 3-point range and Maddox added 12 points and 5 assists.

In the tournament final, the Bears received another stellar performance from Matzelle who scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Maddox, who has been instrumental for the Bears all season scored a game-high 27 points, shooting 15-17 from the foul line. The Bears also received strong efforts from Olakiewicz who closed out his career scoring 12 points and grabbing 9 rebounds and Kudla who scored 4 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Just a freshman, Matzelle was named tournament MVP, averaging 24.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in the two contests. Both Maddox and Olaskiewicz were named to the All-Conference Team based on their performance during the regular season.

Stated coach Joseph Cocozello, "It's been an extremely tough season both on and off the court, and to have it end like this, I couldn't be any happier for or prouder of these guys. They deserve it!"