Christian Brothers Academy head coach Dave Doemel has led the Brothers to the New York State Final Four for the third time since 2004. (Photo by Tom Killips - The Record).

Max Weaver scored 18 points and Kam Ritter added 17 in CBA's regional final victory over Cicero-North Syracuse, but it was Galal Cancer's six points in the fourth quarter that helped put away the Northstars.

CBA advances to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Final Four for the third time since the 2003-04 season.

The Brothers will face Newburgh Free Academy (18-2), which defeated Mount Vernon in the downstate regional championship game at West Point Saturday. To read a recap of that game, click here.
Saturday's NYS Class AA semifinal at the Glens Falls Civic Center tips off at 12:30 p.m.

Newburgh's Devon McMillan was playing with a heavy heart in the regional final game, as his mother was in the hospital. Varsity845 had an interesting story on that here. That page also has video highlights from the game against Mount Vernon.

One of the two teams to defeat Newburgh this year was another private school in Albany, Bishop Maginn. Maginn scored a 60-56 victory over the Goldbacks in Siena College's ARC during a Coaches vs. Cancer event hosted by the Albany Academies.

Two days before that, Maginn had unexpectedly lost to Troy High, but the Griffins played their hearts out against a very talented Newburgh team that day.

“Not to take anything away from any game in the Big 10, but today I think we played for 32 minutes,” said Bishop Maginn head coach Orlando DiBacco after that game. “We competed. The good thing about sports is that we got to get right back on the floor. I’m very proud of all our guys. Hopefully they realized how important it is to compete for 32 minutes.”

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So, what will be the key to CBA's preparation this week?

Mike McLeod, Marcus Henderson and Damon Cousar make a formidable trio for Newburgh. From what I remember of the game at Siena against Maginn, Newburgh is the type of team that likes to run the floor and score points on the fast break. They're not a three-point shooting team like CBA.

Max Weaver has shot the lights out in the last two CBA games, Kam Ritter has done what he needed to do and Galal Cancer has played well in crunch-time. The Brothers don't rely on Jack Reilly for his scoring, but he'll need to continue grabbing rebounds and making steals in the open court for the Brothers if they wish to stay competitive down low with a tough Newburgh team. CBA will also need some points from another source, be it Josh Dennis, Joe Krong or Chaz Lott.

If CBA can keep it a slower, halfcourt type of game, the Brothers should be in good shape. I don't think they can stick with Newburgh if it turns into a ping-pong game back-and-forth across the court at the Civic Center. And if CBA can pack the stands at the Civic Center, that could also turn the tide for them. It's a much more intimate building than the TU Center and perhaps even more so than the HVCC Fieldhouse. Just ask the Castleton Crazies, who carried the Maple Hill boys team to the Class C championship game a season ago.

MATCHUP: Christian Brothers Academy (22-1) faces Section I champion Newburgh Free Academy (18-2) in a New York State Class AA semifinal game Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
TICKETS: $10, available at the door, at www.glensfallscc.com or calling the Civic Center box office, 518-798-0202.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY BROTHERS

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Hgt., Ppg.
23, Galal Cancer, PG, Jr., 6-2, 10.7
10, Max Weaver, SG, Jr., 6-2, 12.5
24, Josh Dennis, G, Sr., 5-10, 4.1
33, Kam Ritter, G/F, Sr., 6-3, 14.7
55, Jack Reilly, C, Sr., 6-3, 4.6

NEWBURGH FREE ACADEMY GOLDBACKS

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Hgt., Ppg.
3, Marcus Henderson, G, Sr., 5-5, 10.8
2, Damon Cousar, G, Sr., 6-2, 10.4
11, William Bouton, G, Sr., 6-0, 9.9
32, Devon McMillan, F, Sr., 6-0, 9.1
4, Michael McLeod, F, Sr., 6-3, 16.3

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Large school boys basketball schedule:

Friday, March 19

New York State semifinal games at Glens Falls Civic Center
Class B
Burke Catholic (I) vs. Potsdam (X), 6:45 p.m.
Westhill (III) vs. Batavia (V), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 20

New York State semifinal games at Glens Falls Civic Center
Class A
Jamesville-Dewitt (III) vs. Red Hook (IX), 9 a.m.
Westbury (VIII) vs. Newark (V), 10:45 a.m.
Class AA
CBA-Albany (II) vs. Newburgh Free Academy (I), 12:30 p.m.
Half Hollow Hills West (XI) vs. Rochester East (V), 2:15 p.m.
Class B
Championship game, 9 p.m.

Sunday, March 21

New York State championship games at Glens Falls Civic Center
Class A, 1 p.m.
Class AA, 2:45 p.m.

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Look for more previews on the rest of our local basketball teams headed to the Final Four in the days to come.

CBA head coach Dave Doemel patrols the sidelines during the 2009-10 Section II Class AA championship game against Shenendehowa. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).