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The 1994-95 team, headed by Coach Tom Vernile and Assistant Coach Robert Larson, consisted of Sean Manning, Martin Ball, Joseph Loughlin, Nick Kusic, Ryan Peters, Troy Warwell, Billy Jankowski, Eric Lugo, Vincent Garcia, Steven Garrido, Jesse DePalma, Jason Gorman, Richie Marques, and Randy Neidich.
Coach Vernile, a former professional minor league baseball player, had never coached basketball until he took over after the previous coach resigned.
Instead of scheduling easier opponents in holiday tournaments and early regular-season games, Vernile scheduled games against New York City powerhouses like Archbishop Stepinac, Mount St. Michael, Fordham Prep, and Christian Brothers Academy to challenge his team. The result was records of 1-6 in the 1993-94 season and 2-5 in the 1994-95 season before league play.
The plan caused critics to lose confidence, but the players bought in. Despite never having won a city title, the 1993-94 Irish defeated Salesian of New Rochelle, top-seeded Scanlan (Bronx), and Regis of Manhattan to win the school’s first CHSAA City Championship. However, the team fell short in the state championship against powerhouse Cardinal O’Hara.
The pain of that loss fueled the team in 1995, as Coach Vernile returned with a tougher practice schedule and a senior-laden squad. The team raced through Scanlan, Regis, and Salesian, the top seed that had beaten Sacred Heart twice during the season.
Down 67-63 in the final minute, Troy Warwell hit a layup, Joe Loughlin stole an inbounds pass, and Billy Jankowski nailed a three-pointer. Sean Manning hit two free throws to complete a 7-0 run for a stunning 70-67 victory and a second straight City title.
With the 1994 loss still fresh in their minds, the now 11-10 Irish went north to meet Turner-Carroll, a team with three Division I players and a bigger, more athletic roster. Overmatched in the first half, the Irish trailed by 15 entering the fourth quarter. But two years of hard work and faith in themselves erupted in a ferocious defense and a miraculous comeback.
Manning had 29 points and 15 rebounds, and Warwell added 25 points and 15 rebounds. Loughlin hit two big three-pointers in the fourth, and several players made game-changing plays to tie the game at 79-79 and force overtime. The gritty Irish outscored Turner-Carroll 7-4 in overtime to win the state title.
The 1995 team, along with Team Manager Alisa Davis-Zehner, Principal Tom Stilla, and Athletic Director Diane Skalicky, remains the only Yonkers high school basketball team to win a state title in either the public or parochial school classification. The team will officially be inducted into the Sacred Heart High School Athletic Hall of Fame on April 12th, 2025.
Our current team of players is viewed similarly: a band of underdog basketball brothers, each unique in personality and ability, finding that hard work, determination, pride, and toughness can result in miracles.
Let’s make a miracle tomorrow.
~Special thanks to Danny Lopriore of the Journal News, who followed the team closely during their historic 1995 championship season, for writing this article.
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