|
|
Photos Vincent Guadazno
Provincetown High School girls center Nikita Eddy, who scored 12 points, goes for a loose ball in Friday’s 46-25 loss to Easthampton. |
|
|
Tyrone Phipps was top scorer for the PHS boys with 29 points. |
|
PHS boys prevail over
Easthampton in opener
Patricia Farrell
Banner Correspondent
Despite being outmanned by a more than two-to-one margin by a very disciplined and competent Easthampton team, the PHS boys hoopsters managed a thrilling opening game win last Friday evening.
After dominating for the entire first half and going into the locker room with a 31-23 lead, the speedier and more athletic PHS squad came out flat to start the second half and allowed Easthampton to climb right back into the game. However, an improbable run of three three-pointers in a row at the five-minute mark, along with a desire that seemed to refuse to let this one get away, and they were able this time to control how things would end.
The Fishermen jumped out to a 7-0 lead by virtue of baskets by Zach Luster and an Alex Rokicki three-pointer. When Easthampton tied the score five minutes into the first half, Tyrone Phipps answered by nailing a three. Easthampton kept pace by scoring on its next trip up the court, but again Phipps answered by scoring on an astonishing reverse lay-up and drawing the foul.
Over the next nine minutes PHS went on a 19-6 scoring spree and seemed on the verge of breaking the game open. Yet with fewer than two minutes left, Easthampton benefited from two three-pointers of their own and a PHS technical. PHS was leading 31-23 at the half, but they’d left the door open.
“At half-time I tried to emphasize that we had to go for the decisive blow. Otherwise this is the type of disciplined team that will slowly drag you down,” Provincetown coach Ned Oliver said later.
His concerns were on the money. After Provincetown’s first three shots of the second half rimmed out, Easthampton went on a 12-4 scoring spree of their own, and by the 12:17 mark the score was tied 35-35. From there on it was a battle of the wills. With 6:49 left and Provincetown trailing 51-45, coach Oliver called a time out. After that, the Fishermen played inspired basketball. Showing poise and patience at the point, Luster fed the ball to an open Rokicki, who drew the foul and hit one of two from the line. Then came the three treys in a row — Luster got it started, Rokicki was next and by the time Phipps hit his, the Fishermen had regained the lead, 56-54.
Phipps, who had a game high 29 points, followed with a move to the basket that put his faked-out defender on the floor. On the next play Phipps was fouled while attempting a three-pointer and calmly hit all three shots from the line. Provincetown was holding onto a 61-60 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Luster hit two more foul shots down the stretch and Provincetown would walk away with a 63-61 win.
Senior center Nikita Eddy had 12 points in the girls 46-25 losing effort against Easthampton. Caitlin Tobias was a steadying force at the point and newcomer Amanda Wager played excellent defense.
New coach Jamie Colley said she was proud of the team and the fact that “they hustled and never gave up.” She added that three-of-17 shooting from the foul line and too many turnovers added up too much to overcome.
“We’ll work on those things in practice,” Colley said.
The girls were scheduled to play Chatham away this Wednesday, Dec. 15.
|
PHS Sports
Nauset Sports |
|
|
|
|
Dec 16th, 2004