Highlights from Lions Basketball 2025-26
JJ Yates, a team captain for the Lions Varsity basketball squad, was named a part of the 2025-2026 CHSAA "A" All-League Team for his play during the season. (Photo via SILive)
Basketball Season Ends with Several Varsity Awards, Title for JV Team
With eyes turning towards the season of Spring, we see the conclusion of the 2025-2026 season for Monsignor Farrell’s basketball program.
This season showed excellent skill, leadership, teamwork, and success from Farrell's Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshmen squads.
This varsity season was the first with Mr. Fisher, '05, as head coach, setting the tone for a bright future. The varsity Lions finished with an overall record of 15-9, earning Coach Fisher CHSAA Coach of the Year honors.
In addition, this varsity season saw the concluding chapter for four incredible seniors who have displayed hard work, leadership, and heart as part of the basketball program: JJ Yates, Matthew Scalisi, Ryan Tait, and James Hutchinson.
Mr. Daniel Fisher, '05, also Assistant Principal of Academics, was named the CHSAA Coach of the Year. The 2025-26 season was Mr. Fisher's first as Varsity Head Coach following Coach Dunn's retirement last year. (Photo via SILive)
Captains JJ Yates and Matthew Scalisi had incredible individual seasons. Yates was a "A" Division CHSAA Player of the Week recipient during week nine, with averages of 14 points and five rebounds. The following week, Scalisi would be crowned CHSAA Player of the Week with averages of 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Yates and junior Ryan Hanley were selected as part of the 2025-2026 "A" All-League Team for their spectacular play throughout the season.
After a finals appearance last season, the varsity squad entered the Staten Island High School League (SIHSL) Tournament as the third seed, eager to make it back to the finals. In the quarterfinals, The Lions captured a dominant 64-44 win over the sixth seed, New Dorp. That game saw big performances from Hanley, who scored 15, and Yates, who had 17 points and three assists, earning him Staten Island Chiropractic and Sports Rehab (SICSR) Player of the Game.
In the semifinals, the Lions faced off against the second-seeded St. Peter's. The game was an intense back-and-forth battle down to the final buzzer. The varsity squad came up just short with a final score of 52-55. JJ Yates was selected to the All-SIHSL Tournament Team.
As the second seed, Farrell took home a commanding 52-39 victory over the seventh-seeded St. Edmund Prep in the CHSAA "A" quarterfinals. The Lions fell just short in the semifinals, 42-36, against St. Joseph by the Sea.
We congratulate the graduating seniors and wish them luck in their future endeavors.
Ryan Hanley, '27, was one of two players selected as part of the 2025-2026 CHSAA "A" All-League Team. (Photo via SILive)
Monsignor Farrell's Junior Varsity squad, led by Coach Pete Tutrone, had an incredible season finishing with a strong 12-7 overall record (3-5 in league play).
Their excellence throughout the season earned them the second seed in the JV SIHSL Tournament, facing off against the seventh seed, St. Joseph-by-the-Sea, in the quarterfinals. The Lions defeated Sea in a thrilling 47-40 matchup to advance to the semifinals. There, they defeated the third-seeded St. Peter's in a close battle with the final score of 48-44.
In the championship against the number one seed Curtis, the Lions defeated the first seed with a score of 66-59 to be crowned SIHSL champions.
Vincent Kraker, '28, was awarded the MVP of the tournament for his heroics in the game and throughout the season, hitting crucial shots to secure his team the title.
"He’s been hitting big shots all year long," Coach Tutrone said in a post-game interview (via SI Live).
The Monsignor Farrell JV basketball team celebrates its SIHSL Championship. (Photo via SILive)
The freshman squad secured a 9-9 overall record (3-3 in league play) to finish out the season, capturing the second seed in the freshman SIHSL Tournament. In the semifinals, the freshmen faced off against Moore Catholic High School in a showdown between the second and third seed.
After falling behind to start the fourth quarter, the freshmen defeated Moore in a spectacular 51-46 comeback to earn a finals appearance against the top seed, St. Peter's.
Despite coming up short in that game and in the CHSAA "A" Playoffs, the freshmen displayed great skill and hard work showing a preview for an exciting future.
The basketball program finished the winter with three incredible seasons filled with accolades and unforgettable moments. We hope to see the same passion and love for the game for the seasons to follow.
The Lion is Monsignor Farrell's student digital newspaper. To read more articles from The Lion, click here.