01 | February | 2014 | McClelland Miscellanea

Daily Archives: February 1, 2014

February 1, 2014 · 9:04 pm

Cold shooting Pingree falls to Governor’s Academy 53-46

Kam Nobles sends a pass to Matt Peart for a layup

Matt Peart (15 points) shoots over Alonzo Jackson and Kyle Lentini

(Byfield MA) Governor’s Academy took the lead for good with 7+ minutes left and defeated Pingree School, 53-46, on Saturday afternoon in non-league action.

There were five lead changes in the first half and the Highlanders (12-7) had a slim, 29-27, advantage at the half.

The turnover-prone Gov’s (13 in the first half) survived in the first half because junior Matt Peart (15 points) was a force at both ends. Matt blocked shots and intimidated Pingree penetrators while getting eleven of his points in the first sixteen minutes.

Matt Peart converted a rebound to tie the score at 35-35 with just under twelve minutes left in the second half. However, Kyle Lentini (16 points) was part of a Pingree push that had them ahead, 40-37, with 10:12 remaining.

Last year the Gov’s won, 58-57, at Pingree and this game looked, at this point, as if it was heading in the same direction.

It didn’t work out that way.

Justin Assad and Nick Osarenren (10 points)

Sometimes there’s a basket in the game that turns the tide. I think it was the go-ahead-for-good basket by freshman Nick Osarenren. The Govs were very patient on most of their second-half possessions but on this key one, they were almost a little too patient. Nick ended up with the ball on the left baseline and with everyone on the GA bench yelling for him to shoot he did and swished a jump shot as the 35-second clock went off.

Nick’s shot put GA (4-10) in front, 41-40, with 7+ minutes left. The Highlanders had no scoring answers the rest of the way. The visitors from Hamilton made just one outside shot (Justin Assad) in the second half.

The Govs put an 8-2 segment together and increased their advantage to 49-42 with just under three minutes left.

Pingree could not get closer than five points the rest of the way even though GA made only two of seven free throws in the final minute.

Kam Nobles (11 points) tries to go between Erik Fyrer and Griffin Beal

I was impressed with the play of GA point guard Kam Nobles. Kam was the stabilizer against a persistent Pingree press and was the key to GA’s clock-eating offense down the stretch. Kam collected eleven points including two 3’s.

Johnny Spears was back for Pingree and made a number of passes that “wowed” the sizable crowd.

Pingree benefited from a scorebook miscue early in the game. Kyle Lentini ended up with a couple of extra free throws as a result.

Kyle had Pingree’s only three in the game.

Kyle Lentini (16 points) puts up a shot

Justin Assad had twelve points for Pingree.

Pingree’s next game is at Providence Country Day School on Friday, February 7th.

Governor’s will be at Brooks in their next action on Wednesday (7PM).

Governor’s box

Pingree box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Johnny Spears tries to get between two defenders

Johnny Spears and Charles Odei

Justin Assad gets an open look

Matt Peart blocks the shot of Kyle Lentini

Erik Fyrer (#5) deflects a shot

heavy action under the basket

Pat Davis

Newtown holds off Joel Barlow 58-56 in South-West Conference action

Mike Davis (14 points) converts a rebound to give Newtown the lead for good.

Julian Dunn (22 points) shoots over Bryce Fey

(Newtown CT) There was a tie and three lead changes in the last two minutes but at the end it was Newtown (8-5) hanging on to a 58-56 win over Joel Barlow (6-8) on Friday night in South-West Conference action.

The Falcons carried a 56-55 lead into the final 1:24 but had a missed shot, two turnovers, and a desperation heave at the very end to show for the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, the Nighthawks were able to take the lead when Mike Davis (14 points) put back his own missed shot. After a JB miss, Julian Dunn (22 points) made one of two free throws with fifty-five seconds left. That resulting two-point bulge (58-56) turned out to be enough despite Newtown failing to ice the game by missing four free throws in a row after Julian’s made free throw.

Both teams had their moments before the exciting finish.

Newtown jumped ahead 14-7 in the first six minutes riding two 3’s by senior Brian Leblanc.

Will Menapace (15 points) launches a three

Then it was Joel Barlow’s turn to get carried from long range as Will Menapace (15 points) connected four times before halftime. The outside accuracy was part of a 25-11 Falcons’ run that put the visitors from Redding in front 34-25 at the half.

The Nighthawks rallied early in the second half to get within four (37-33). You had to think that Newtown’s luck might have changed for the better when the last three points were off a 3-pointer off the backboard by Troy Frangione.

However this was a game where the direction you thought it was heading could quickly change. Instead of wilting under the Newtown charge, the Falcons put nine unanswered points together. Meanwhile, the Nighthawks put a string of turnovers together (four) and trailed 46-33 with 1:43 left in the third quarter.

Newtown certainly looked to be in trouble but over the next 4+ minutes of playing time, stretching into the final quarter, it was their turn to be in control. The Nighthawks constructed a 16-4 segment, led by two 3’s (Brian Leblanc) and eight points on the inside by Julian Dunn.

When that dust cleared, Newtown had taken the lead, 49-48, with 4:25 to go in the game.

Will Bracken

But credit Joel Barlow. Before you knew it the momentum had changed and they were back in front, 56-55, with 1:24 left after three-point plays by Will Bracken and Will Menapace.

That set up the exciting finish.

Key to the win was the blanket defense Troy Frangione put on first-half shooting star Will Menapace in the second half. Will had trouble getting the ball never mind shooting it. He did, however, make a huge three that gave JB it’s last lead.

A key basket in Newtown’s second-half, 16-4, burst came after a wild 3-point attempt by Brian Leblanc ended up in the layup-producing hands of teammate Julian Dunn. Trust me, there was no assist involved.

Junior John Tucker had eleven points for Joel Barlow.

Jake Ball only scored four points for Newtown but both layups came in the final three minutes of the game.

Newtown has now won eight of their last nine games after an 0-4 start.

Troy Frangione double-teamed

Joel Barlow had now lost four of their last five games.

JB will host Weston on February 4th (Tuesday 7PM) while Newtown visits New Milford on the same day and at the same time.

Joel Barlow was 7-13 last year missing the Class M tournament by one game.

I tell people that they need to come to a Newtown home basketball game just to see what their cheerleaders and dance teams can do. Tonight was no different although I suspect both squads were hedging their bets in this game because of serious competitions tomorrow.

Is there a good reason why programs aren’t produced?

Mike Davis and Julian Dunn ran some excellent give-and-goes for Newtown.

Newtown box

Joel Barlow box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)