McCarthy Leads Finley-7 Boys’ Basketball
Captain Kenny McCarthy averaged 14 points per game to lead the J. Taylor Finley Middle School seventh grade boys’ basketball team to a 7-3 record this winter under head coach Rick Agnello.
McCarthy emerged as an outstanding shooter on a level of competition that rarely sees such dynamic offense. Agnello said the budding star “finishes strong and can absorb contact and still finish. He’s an elite level scorer with great leadership skills. He’s a great court finisher and a very good, intelligent defender.”
Captain Brendan Homire also sparkled, with excellent ball handling skills and “very good court vision,” Agnello said. A solid shooter, Homire averaged five points per game.
Lucas Cooper and Matt Reed were two more top players for the 16-player squad. Cooper was called “tough as nails” by Agnello. “He battled on every rebound and every play and teamed up with Kenny to score many points on the pick-and-roll.”
Reed has a very soft touch around the basket. “He can finish with both hands,” the coach said. He’s also an exceptional defender and a very good rebounder.
Davonte Evans, an outstanding defender and shooter and Kiandre Burrell, the team’s third captain and another player with good shooting skills, were also among the top athletes on the roster.
Following a 1-2 start, Finley cranked it up by winning six of its final seven games, climaxing with a comeback victory over Bay Shore. The Falcons trailed in that game by a point with 30 seconds remaining before McCarthy and Cooper collaborated on a successful pick-and-roll to give Finley the lead. McCarthy then iced the win by dropping four consecutive free throws from the foul line.
“This was one of the best groups of boys I have ever coached,” Agnello said. “They are talented and they work hard, which is a great combo.”
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