STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Thanksgiving Eve is one of the top nights on the Staten Island sports calendar for a reason. It signals the opening of a new basketball season, where optimism springs eternal and a win usually means the turkey will taste that much better on Thursday.

Well, for Mike Cortese and his young St. Joseph by-the-Sea squad the carvings will sure to be pleasant as the Vikings went into hostile territory and gutted out a 60-47 lid-lifting triumph over Monsignor Farrell in front of a jam packed gymnasium in Oakwood.

The Vikings received a game-high 19 points from junior sharp-shooter Nick Rebracca, but also got several key contributions up and down the rotation. 70

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Cortese’s slew of juniors all had a hand in the win as Nick Lee (12 points, four assists, two steal

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