2004-05
XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Final State Ranking: Hartford Courant #4 New Haven Register #5
Record:
24-3
TEAM HONORS
 State Division 1 Semi-Finalists
 Southern Connecticut Conference Champions (SCC)
 1st Annual Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament Champions
 City of Middletown Champions
FRONT ROW (L-R): Mark Micowski, Michael Papale, Nick Corsetti, Chevar Rankins,
Nick Greenwood, Courtney Simmons, Chris Nettis
BACK ROW (L-R): Head Coach Michael Kohs, Andrew Parks, Michael Miazga,
Stephen Faulkner, Kevin Bolasevich, Chauncey Hardy, Amari Spievey, Asst.
Art Kohs, Asst. Michael Papale
SEASON IN REVIEW
XAVIER
61
78
65
Middletown
Hand-Madison
Lyman Hall
Christmas Tournament
OPPONENT
47
67
50
51
62
Notre Dame – WH (semi-finals)
East Hartford
(championship)
47
53
63
46
88
61
70
69
76
85
76
78
76
70
52
52
87
Wilbur Cross
West Haven
Fairfield Prep
Hamden
Career
Shelton
Hand-Madison
Lyman Hall
Notre Dame –WH
Wilbur Cross
West Haven
Fairfield Prep
Hamden
Career
Shelton
SCC Tournament
Sheehan (Quarter-finals)
Hillhouse (Semi-finals)
Hamden (Championship)
C.I.A.C. DIVISION I State
Tournament
Bulkeley
(1st Rnd.)
Northwest Catholic
(2nd Rnd.)
Harding
(Quarter-finals)
Crosby
(Semi-finals)
47
36
60
76
43
51
59
35
61
51
49
55
54
47
48
72
56
58
51
90
56
65
55
53
50
44
71
52
78
Regular Season
The 2004-05 Basketball season will be remembered as one of Xavier’s finest
ever. The team compiled a final record of 24-3. The season opener against city rival
Middletown took an unusual two days to complete. A city wide power outage with 5
minutes remaining in the 4th quarter meant Xavier would have to return to Middletown
the following day to complete the 61-47 win. This win was Xavier’s 5th in the 6 year
history of the City Championship series between the schools. Another early season
highlight was the 1st Annual Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament. Xavier defeated
division rival Notre Dame of West Haven and East Hartford defeated E.O. Smith to set
up a great championship game. The title seemed a stretch as East Hartford ran out to a
33-10 second quarter lead. However, Juniors Amari Spievey, Chevar Rankins, and
Chauncey Hardy led Xavier to what may be the biggest comeback win in school history.
Xavier came all the way back to defeat East Hartford and win the championship 62-53.
The remainder of the regular season was highlighted by two outstanding performances
against Wilbur Cross to sweep them for the first time in 8 years. The team was 18-2
during the regular season, losing twice to SCC Quinnipiac division foe Hamden. After
losing to Hamden earlier in the year, the rematch was a great game in front of a raucous,
sold out crowd, led by the “Kohs’ Krazies” student section. Hamden came back to give
Xavier its only home loss of the season late in the game by a score of 54-52. The
outstanding regular season earned Xavier the #3 seed in the SCC tournament and the #6
seed in the Division I State Tournament.
SCC League Tournament
During the 11-year history of the SCC, Xavier has enjoyed great success in the
league tournament and this year was no different. In the Quarterfinal, the Falcons
jumped out to a 42-28 halftime lead and cruised to a 72-55 victory over sixth-seeded
Sheehan. Xavier was led by Chevar Rankins (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Chauncey
Hardy (team-high 18 points). Xavier is now an amazing 8-0 in SCC quarterfinal contests.
In the semifinal, junior Amari Spievey scored 24 points, including two clutch free throws
with 17 seconds remaining, to give the Falcons a 56-53 win over second-seeded
Hillhouse. Chevar Rankins added 14 points and Chauncey Hardy 12 for Xavier, which
earned its fifth (and second straight) berth in the SCC title game. The third time was
indeed the charm for the Xavier Falcons. After losing twice to Hamden in the regularseason, third-seeded Xavier held off the top-seeded Green Dragons, 58-50, to win the
2005 SCC Boys Basketball Championship before a jam-packed and enthusiastic crowd at
East Haven High School. Chauncey Hardy was named tournament MVP, scoring 17
points and adding six rebounds and five assists. Mike Miazga added 14 points and
Chevar Rankins 12 for Xavier. It is the Falcons' fourth SCC title - 1995, 1997, 2001, and
2005. Only Wilbur Cross (5) has won more SCC championships in the 11-year history of
the Conference; quite an accomplishment considering the size of the league (21 member
schools).
State Tournament
Xavier was the #6 seed in the Division I State Tournament and began play by
defeating Bulkeley 51-44. The second round game brought the Northwest Conference
Champion and #10 ranked Northwest Catholic to Xavier. The Falcons continued to play
outstanding basketball and defeated Northwest in a well-played game, 90-71. In the State
Quarterfinals, Chauncey Hardy dished out 14 assists and Amari Spievey added 17 points
to defeat perennial state power Harding of Bridgeport 56-52. In the semifinals, Xavier
matched up with the state’s #1 ranked and undefeated Crosby from Waterbury. Xavier
gave Crosby its biggest scare of the season to that point, by trimming Crosby’s lead to six
with 4 minutes to go. However, eventual state champion Crosby proved too much for the
falcons and ended Xavier’s season one game short of the ultimate goal, 78-65.
Future
Head Coach Michael Kohs, and his assistants Art Kohs and Michael Papale,
received key contributions from numerous players throughout the season especially
seniors Michael Miazga, Chris Nettis, and team captain Nick Corsetti. Xavier’s future
looks bright as the falcons will return 9 varsity letter winners for the 2005-06 season.
Individual Honors
CHAUNCEY HARDY (6ft Jr. Pt Guard)
 2005 C.H.S.C.A Class “LL” 1st Team All-State
 2005 New Haven Register - 1st Team All-State
 2005 Hartford Courant - 1st Team All-State
 2005 New Haven Basketball Tap Off Club Team
 2005 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
 2005 SCC Tournament MVP
 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
 Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament – All Tourney Team
AMARI SPIEVEY (6ft 1 Jr. Guard)
 2005 New Haven Register – 2nd Team All State
 2005 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
 2004 All SCC Quinnipiac Division Team
 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
 Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament – MVP
CHEVAR RANKINS (6ft 2 Jr. Forward)
 Team Captain
 2005 New Haven Register – Honorable Mention All-State
 2005 Middletown Press All Area Team
 Arthur M. Kohs Christmas Tournament – All Tourney Team
MICHAEL MIAZGA (6ft 7 Sr. Center)
 2005 Middletown Press All Area - 2nd Team
Team Awards
Offensive Player of the Year:
Defensive Player of the Year:
Arthur M. Kohs Coaches Award:
Senior Award:
Chauncey Hardy
Amari Spievey
Chevar Rankins
Nick Corsetti