With Center Field’s basketball week fast approaching, Marist Sports Communication students stepped out of the classroom and onto the court as Center Field faced off against Red Fox Report in the first annual Basketball Week Classic.
The game was highly competitive from start to finish–Red Fox Report held a late lead, but the late-game heroics of senior point guard Aidan Lavin helped Center Field leave McCann Arena with a 36-35 victory.
Lavin was originally questionable to play, and the team prepared with the expectation he would not be in the lineup. Lavin had a midterm exam scheduled at the same time as the game, but he showed up for his teammates in dominant fashion, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and the game-sealing block in the closing seconds en route to being named MVP.
“I’ve been balancing school and athletics my entire life, so this is just another example of that,” said Lavin. “It’s a great story. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play, but I was able to make a strong contribution to a winning effort. That’s all you can ask for.”
Before the game, Red Fox Report head coach Derek Dowigiallo expressed confidence in his roster, stating that as the more talented team, Red Fox Report would cruise to victory as long as they limited preventable mistakes.
Dowigiallo wasn’t taking a dig at Center Field–it was more of a vote of confidence for his team, but that didn’t stop Lavin from internalizing the statement as a source of motivation throughout the game.
“Sometimes I need something to get my competitive juices flowing,” said Lavin. “At the end of the day, it made me want to compete. I like to prove people wrong, and I know it wasn’t a shot at me, but sometimes you just have to take it in that way and get yourself going.”
Complementing Lavin for Center Field was junior small forward Ben Leeds, who turned in a strong performance of his own. The dynamic duo combined for 22 of the team’s 36 points.
“I’ve heard about Aidan’s basketball skills but I’ve never played with him until tonight. He is the real deal,” said Leeds. “I had a lot of fun playing out there with him.”
Leeds finished with a team-leading 12 points and a game-leading three steals on the defensive side of the ball.
“It’s not like a season where you get to play a ton of games, we only had one. I knew I had to leave it all on the floor,” said Leeds.
Center Field was under the leadership of senior power forward Dan Aulbach, who stepped up in a player-coach role after potential head coach candidate Zachary Arth turned down the offer due to prior bowling commitments.
“I just wanted to be a leader that can provide direction and motivation. I was there to make sure the guys were locked in,” said Aulbach.
On the opposing sideline, Dowgiallo ran a “positionless basketball” system, hoping to keep the opposition off balance and give his team the flexibility to adapt to different situations rather than rely on a rigid system.
“Positionless basketball allows us to stay versatile; we can see how we match up with them and adapt in-game if necessary,” said Dowigiallo.
Despite the close loss, Dowigialo’s game plan came to fruition, as a handful of players made strong contributions for Red Fox Report, and the team was able to remain unpredictable in its scheme.
Leading the way for Red Fox Report was senior Jimmy Tsiantoulas, who finished with 12 points, two assists and four rebounds.
Junior Nick Chiarito had a strong effort of his own, scoring six points while also serving as a glass-cleaner, securing a game-leading eight rebounds.
Senior Tommy Armstrong was the unsung hero for the Red Fox Report, with a team-leading four assists while also securing six rebounds. Junior Gene Barbieri scored six points and also secured four rebounds.
Sophomore William Rosen was a threat from long-range, knocking down two 3-pointers in the second half to help erase the halftime deficit.
Red Fox Report led with under thirty seconds remaining, but Lavin drove in and sunk a floater from close range to give Center Field the lead for good. If his game-winning basket wasn’t enough, Lavin also sealed the game with a huge block on Tsiantoulas as time expired.
Staying true to their nature, sports communication students showed up to provide media coverage for the event. The game had it all: live commentary, sideline interviews, photography, and even live stats tracking. The incoming program director, Andy Elrick, attended in support of the students and even served as the game’s referee.
The Basketball Week Classic was more than just an exhibition game–it was a celebration of the sports communication program and a testament to the close-knit community that has been forged within the program.
“I think this will become a tradition. We all love sports here, and we all had a great time,” said Chiarito. “I’m already ready for the next game.”
For now, these student-athletes will return to where they are most comfortable–providing you coverage for all things Marist sports!
Edited by Luke Sassa
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore; Photos from Jaylen Rizzo
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