Daily Sports Digest: Iona Duo Celebrated for On-court Excellence

The Top Spot:

Iona’s Machado Named MAAC Player of the Year

The Gaels mens basketball team has been enjoying a very successful season, and it all starts with point guard Scott Machado. Yesterday Machado was named the 2011-2012 Pepsi Max MAAC Player of the Year by the conference’s head coaches.

Machado currently leads the NCAA in assists with 10.1 a game and gives Iona 13 points in each contest. This year the Iona point guard was named player of the week four times and he was just named to the All-MAAC First Team for the second time in two years.

The Gaels will begin the MAAC Tournament on Saturday Mar. 3 in the quarterfinals against the winner of Marist and Saint Peter’s at 4:30 p.m. in Springfield MA.

Martinez Brings Home MAAC Rookie of the Year

Iona guard Damika Martinez of Meriden, CT, was named the 2011-12 MAAC Rookie of the Year by the conference’s head coaches yesterday.

As a freshman the 5-7 guard led the league in scoring with 16.1 points per game and she was named to the All-MAAC Second Team this season. Martinez was named the Conference’s Rookie of the Week four times, and the Player of the Week on Jan. 9.

The Gaels return to the hardwood today when they take on Fairfield in the quarterfinals of the 2012 MAAC Championship.

Jaspers celebrate seniors, in MAAC playoffs

Liam McCabe-Moran of New Rochelle marked his final home game for the Manhattan College basketball team when the Jaspers bowed to visiting Loyola (MD), 60-62.

McCabe-Moran, the leading all-time scorer at Rye High School, was joined by seniors Djirbril Coulibaly of Mali, and Kidani Brutus of the Bronx.

The Jaspers (16-14) meet Siena (11-16) today in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) quarterfinals at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. Manhattan is seeking its fifth MAAC Tournament title, after going 10-8 in conference play and gaining the No. 3 seed. Siena was given the No. 6 seed after finishing 9-9 in the MAAC.

Pro Squash Returns to the Area

Pro Squash Tour will return to Westchester County for the Buffalo Wild Wings Westchester Open hosted by the Club @ 800 Squash & Fitness, 800 Westchester Avenue in Rye Brook, March 2-4, 2012.

Headlining this tournament is Egyptian squash player Wael El Hindi, the most charismatic and colorful character on the world squash stage. In 2010, he won the U.S. Open, El Hindi was also a member of the 2009 Egyptian National Team which won the World Team Championship. Also

The US based Pro Squash Tour was founded in 2009 and has quickly become the world's most popular squash tour. The season begins in August and runs through May.

For tickets and information, visit www.ProSquashTour.net.

Yesterday’s Results:

Sport: Girls Basketball Class AA Semifinals

Game: (10) Carmel vs. (3) Our Lady of Lourdes

Score: Lourdes Won 46-40

Highlights: Emily Ferreri led Lourdes with 12 points and Kristyn Horan picked up 11, both Ferreri and Horan had five rebounds. Nora McElduff added seven points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Carmel’s Sabrina Diaz led the team with 10 points in the loss.

Sport: Girls Basketball Class AA Semifinals

Game: (4) John Jay (EF) vs. (1) Ossining

Score: Ossining Won 106-66

Highlights: Saniya Chong nearly had a quadruple double as the junior picked up 33 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds and seven steals. Andra Espinoza-Hunter, a seventh grader had 21 points, Danielle Gervavio added 14 and Destini Walker tacked on 13 in the win.

Calli Balfour led John Jay with 22 points and 14 rebounds in the loss, Brittney Gullo added 18.

Ossining and Lourdes will face off in the Class AA Championship Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.

Sport: Girls Basketball Class A Semifinals

Game: (6) Sleepy Hollow vs. (2) Tappan Zee

Score:

Highlights: Kristen McLaughlin led the Dutchmen with 20 points as Erica Richards added 16 and Kasey Keane tacked on 11 points and nine rebounds.

Jamie Bucci led all scorers with 21 points in the loss for Sleepy Hollow.

Sport: Girls Basketball Class A Semifinals

Game: (4) Albertus Magnus vs. (1) Pearl River

Score:

Highlights: Pearl River’s Christa Scognamiglio led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds as Amanda DeCourcey added 12 points and Marissa Scognamiglio picked up 11.

Maeve Parahus led the Falcons with 14 as Kelly Guarino added 12 in the loss.

Top seeded Pearl River will take on Tappan Zee for the third time this season in the Class A Championship Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Westchester County Center, the teams split the early season meetings.

Today’s Schedule:

In boys basketball, Iona Prep will take on St. Edmund’s at 7:45 p.m. in the CHSAA A Intersectional Championship.

In boys basketball, (1) Greenburgh Academy and (2) Biondi will face off in the Class D Championship at 1 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.

In boys basketball, (2) Peekskill will take on (11) Poughkeepsie in the Class A Semifinals at 3 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.

In boys basketball, (1) Tappan Zee will face off against (5) Byram Hills in the Class A Semifinals at 4:45 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.

In boys basketball, (3) Mahopac will take on (2) Fox Lane at 6:30 p.m. in the Class AA Semifinals at the Westchester County Center.

In boys basketball, (4) Clarkstown South and (1) Mount Vernon will square off at 8:15 p.m. in the Class AA Semifinals at 8:15 p.m. at the Westchester County Center.

Weekly Sports Poll:

Major League Baseball lost a great earlier this month, former Met and Expo Gary Carter.

Two decades years after he retired, Carter was elected into the baseball Hall of Fame and many consider him one of the best catchers of all time.

But where do you think “Kid” ranks among the best New York back stops of all time?

Let us know your thoughts below in this week's sports poll.

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