By Joe Vieira / Boys Basketball | Wednesday, March 3, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com |
SALEM – No. 3 St. John’s Prep got 11 crucial points from sophomore guard Michael Carbone in the fourth quarter to stave off a resurgent Lynn English squad, 79-78, in a Division 1 North semifinal last night at Salem High.
The Prep (21-2) led by as much as 14 points in the first half, but a 17-6 run by the Bulldogs (21-2) to close out the second quarter cut the deficit to 35-34 at the break.
After dominating the boards in the first half, the Prep fell apart in the paint in the third quarter, allowing numerous second and third chances for the Bulldogs. Center Keandre Stanton (17 points) took advantage of the breakdown, scoring eight points in the third as his squad opened up a 57-50 lead entering the final frame.
Stephen Haladyna (game-high 28 points) and Carbone (14) took over in the fourth, however. Haladyna scored six quick points to cut the lead to 59-58, and then Carbone hit the first of three 3-pointers to give Prep a 61-59 edge with 6:00 to go.
The Eagles pushed the lead as high as 76-68 with 2:00 remaining, but a 3-pointer for Jarell Byrd (21 points) helped chip away at the deficit, which was 77-74 when Carbone got to the line and knocked down what turned out to be two game-winning free throws with 5.4 seconds left.
Paradise Hogan hit 1-of-3 free throws for English with 1.7 seconds left. The Bulldogs’ Joshua Castillo rebounded the last miss and knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the 79-78 final.
“I was just trying to do what was best for the team, doing my best to help them win,” said Carbone. “(Haladyna) carried us. He stepped it up and turned the momentum around.”
After such an entertaining game, it’s hard to think about what effect Ryan Woumn might have had for Lynn English, as the Herald Dream Teamer was suspended for the contest.
“Not having Ryan had a huge impact on us,” said English coach Mike Carr. “We didn’t have that go-to guy that when we had to get a bucket and get ourselves into a defensive set, and we went kind of helter skelter. I just want to our kids so much credit. They’ve been up against an awful lot. People forget how hard those kids work.”
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/high_school/general/view.bg?articleid=1236875
