Paterson Catholic Makes Presence Felt In Palm Tournament!

                                                          Defense Wins Game For Visiting Cougars

                                                                                                             By: K. Anderson

                     If  defense wins championships and ” Defense is Desire” then the 2009-10 Paterson Catholic Boys Basketball team desires to win “CHIPS”. Last night in The City Of Palms Basketball Tournament, P.C. smothered the home team town team Fort myers using several different defenses to hold the team (6-1) to just 47 points. the defensive attack was lead by 6’5 senior guard Jayon James who came off the bench to”lock up” Fort Myers star point guard Evan Graham. PC jumped out on the home team early going up 16-8 at the end of the 1st period. 5’9 junior point guard Myles Mack hit for 7 points  and James scored his only 4 points of the game. In the second quarter the new Jersey team unleashed a lightning quick diamond and one (1-2-1-1) full court press that lead to to several Fort Myers turnovers. With 4:26 left in the half, Fuquan Edwin (Seton Hall commit) stole an inbounds pass and converted  an old fashion 3 point play to put PC up 27-12. PC looked like they would go into the half with a comfortable 15 point lead, but Graham hit his only field goal of the game at the horn to make it a 33-20 game. that would be the closest the home team would get. For the half, several PC players played well. Edwin scored 10 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and had 3 steals. Also adding to the impressive play was Mack with 9points and 6’7 soph guard Kyle Anderson with 6 rebounds.

                                                             P.C. Has “Block Party” and Invites Fort Myers

              In the third quarter PC used a different “defensive ” weapon. Staying with the blistering fullcourt press, PC twin towers of Anderson and 6’8 center Derrick Randallbegan what is commonly known in the basketball world as a “Block Party”. they both swatted 5 of the Ft. Myers shots a piece. This allowed  PC to start fast breaks that would often end in easy baskets. With 6:05 remaining in the 3rd Anderson blocked a shot and James took it the length of the court and with a slick no look pass hit Randall for a monster dunk making the score 37-20. PC’s “D” continued on as Anderson stole a pass dribbled through traffic and finger rolled a layup over a Ft. Myers player, he was fouled and completed the 3 point playmaking the score 44-22 with 4:21 to play in the 3rd. PC would go into the final stanza up 51-32 and never looked back. It only got uglier. With 5:28 remaining, James grabbed a rebound and hit a streaking Mack up the court for a layup and a commanding 61-33 lead.With 2:54 left Coach Damon Wright pulled the starters up 67-38. Edwin was his usual well rounded performer with 27 points,8 rebounds and 5 steals. Mack ended the game with 13 points and Randall went for 13 points, 6 rebounds and 7 rebounds. James lead the team with 8 assists and played under control throughout the game. Ft.Myers was lead by Terran McClendon with 11 points and Colin Henry with 9 points. PC now plays Penn Wood H.S. from Lansdowne, Pa. tonight (saturday) in the 10pm night cap. The winner continues on into the semfinals on Tuesday December 22nd at 9:30pm.

                                                              St. Benedicts Prep Advances

                   St. Benedicts continued it’s fine play at the City of Palms Tournament. They have never lost in this tournament being a perfect 5-0. They won the CHIP here in 2007 led by Louisville  center Samardo Samuels. Based on their performance last night,particularly Myck Kabongo (Texas commit) who erupted for 31 points and 4 assists in a 80-66 win over Sagermont School of Weston Fla. He got help from 6’5 senior guard Mike Poole scored 19 points and 6’8 senior forward Gil Biruta (Rutgers commit) added 13. Benedict’s plays St. Francis of Baltimore, Md. If both Paterson Catholic and St. Benedicts continue their winning ways, they would meet on Wednesday at 9:30pm on E.S.P.N.U. for the championship making it an all New Jersey “CHIP”!