The College of Staten Island men’s basketball program enjoyed a banner year, and the 28-3 season is still yielding its share of honors, this time from D3hoops.com. The website announced its all-region squads, and the Atlantic sees three Dolphins sharing the spotlight. Tony Petosa earned the region’s Coach of the Year honors, while freshman sensation Frankie Schettino earned Rookie of the Year honors. Senior all-time scoring leader Bloochy Magloire followed up his first-team all-CUNYAC selection by also being named to the first team with D3hoops.com.
It’s been hard to make a case against Petosa, who led the Dolphins to a program-best 28 wins in 2014, complete with an ECAC Metro NY/NJ Championship at season’s end, the program’s first since 1986. CSI lost only a single game in regulation, the 87-84 decision to York College in the CUNYAC Championship game. CSI’s other two losses came in overtime games played on the road. In fact, CSI spent the first six games of its schedule on the road, as renovations concluded to the Sports & Recreation Center in time for basketball season. Along the way, CSI tied a school record for shooting percentage at 50.2%, leading to 84.3 points per game, the second-highest total in CSI single season history. The Dolphins also held opponents to just 39.3% shooting, the second lowest in school history as well. Petosa was also named CUNYAC Coach of the Year for the fourth-straight time. Petosa’s win in the ECAC Final was the 400th in his career.
“It’s always nice to have your program recognized in this way,” said Petosa, who completed his 24th season as head coach. “We had a great regular season and I’m happy we were able to bounce back the way we did at the end. To see the kids recognized for their achievements and to have this honor for myself is really very appreciated.”
Schettino was CSI’s only freshman to crack the starting lineup this season, starting every game for the Dolphins, destroying the school’s single season record for assists with 222. The frosh was an eight-time CUNYAC Rookie of the Week, and coasted to the conference’s yearly honor as well. Schettino averaged 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He was also among the CSI leaders in three-point shooting percentage (38.1%) and free-throw percentage (70.5%).
First-team All-Star Bloochy Magloire was a main component to the team’s success, leading the squad with a 17.3 points-per-game average. His 414 total points gave him 1,822 for his career, a new CSI record, one he eclipsed in CSI’s final game of the season against Kean University in the ECAC title game. Magloire added a team-high 53 three-pointers, helping him to the team’s all-time career record in that category as well, with 278 three-pointers. Magloire also finished as the school’s all-time leader in free-throw shooting, averaging 82% from the line. Magloire also is among CSI’s all time leaders in blocked shots and steals.
“I’m glad I got the opportunity to make the team and for this recognition,” said Magloire, a CUNYAC all-star his entire career. “I have to give a lot of credit to my coach who put me in a position for the last four years to be successful. I’m happy to represent the College with this award and hope it brings us the recognition we deserve.”
The Dolphins ripped through the CUNYAC regular season to the tune of a 16-0 regular season record. The postseason loss to York, however, denied the Dolphins the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Division III Postseason Championship Tournament. Still, the Dolphins bounced back nicely, winning only their second ECAC championship in program history, and their first since 1986, what was then Petosa’s senior year as a CSI standout player. The Championship was the first in Petosa’s coaching career in 12 trips.
Purchase State’s Andre NIxon was named the Atlantic Region Player of the Year. York College’s Michael Woods (first-team) and Omar St. John (second-team) were also CUNYAC recipients.
