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Holy Cross star calls Gilvary’s dismissal unjust after season opening win

Holy Cross star calls Gilvary’s dismissal unjust after season opening win
By Joseph Staszewski

Holy Cross opened the season with a 65-56 win over visiting Holy Trinity in non-league boy’s basketball Tuesday night in the first game without Paul Gilvary at the helm in 16 seasons. The coach, who led the Knights to last season’s CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens title, was dismissed from the position and put on paid administrative leave from his job as director of admissions Nov. 10 because of alleged improprieties.

Senior guard Terrell Williams, a three-year varsity player, said he missed Gilvary and that it felt weird when he was first removed. He praised him as being a good coach and said the school did not handle the situation justly.

“I don’t think it was fair the way he went out,” said Williams, who scored 10 points.

New coach Tom Marchesini, a Holy Cross alum who was promoted from being the freshman head man, said he has not mentioned Gilvary since taking over. He wants his inexperienced team to wipe the slate clean. Getting their first game and win under their belts was a big step in that direction.

“I was more concerned about how they were going to react in the first game,” he said.

The Knights handled themselves well. Joshua Wallace scored 14 points and sophomore guard Jermaine Bishop tallied nine of his 13 points when Holy Cross pulled away in the third quarter. Reserve forward Marshall Louis chipped in eight points and four blocks. Damon Coleman paced Holy Trinity with 24 points.

“With everything going on it’s a good win,” Williams said. “Get this off our shoulders. We just have to keep going from there.”

They will do so without the 48-year-old Gilvary. Holy Cross President Rev. Walter Jenkins, who was on the bench for the game, declined any comment. The New York Post has reported that Gilvary was removed for watching his players during mandatory shower sessions and that the Police Department was brought in to investigate the allegations. Marchesini said despite all that has happened he tried to hit the ground running with this group and putting the focus on basketball and implementing his style.

“I just knew we had a job to do right away and let’s get to work,” Marchesini said. “I didn’t even think about how they were feeling about the coach being gone.”

Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.