|
Watch video highlights
 Just
four days removed from their highly emotional LSSAA
final against the Northern Vikings, the St.
Christopher Cyclones hosted the John McGregor
Panthers for a semi-final match up for SWOSSAA and
came away with a 53-45 victory.
But as
coach Dave Ellsley, the Cyclones didn't play to the
standard they set in the LSSAA finals.
"We lacked
a bit of the intensity we had on Saturday," Ellsley
said after the game. "But that's understandable as
playing against Northern is always a big deal for
us. Playing in front of 1300 people is always a big
deal for us."
The
Cyclones came out early, with the usual cast of Joe
Rocca driving to the net and Martin Popiel standing
tall under the basket, putting rebounds back up and
in for four early points as the Cyclones took an
early 7-2 lead. Rocca would add another two for four
as well in the quarter, while Eric McDonald nailed
two jumpers to give the Cyclones a 15-6 lead after
the first.
In the
second the Cyclones began to pull away from the
Panthers, as Rocca got a shot off the glass to fall
for two and picked up a rebound for another basket.
The Cyclone shooters were hitting as Mike Rocca and
Dan Moore made jumpers while Logan Savage picked up
a rebound and put it back in. Before the quarter
went out, Joe Rocca nailed a three pointer just
before the buzzer as the Cyclones score 16 in the
quarter, while holding the Panthers to 11, as they
took a 31-17 lead into the locker room at half time.
Coming out
in the third, it was the Panthers shooters that woke
up as their first three baskets were three pointers,
scoring nine points and cutting the lead to nine.
Joe Rocca though would have two back to back steals
and lay it in to help restore the lead, but the
Panthers hung around and clawed back into the game.
By the
fourth quarter the lead that was once 14 was down to
just 2. The Rocca brothers combined for six free
throws in the middle of the quarter. With the
Panthers in foul trouble and needing the ball back,
they took their chances sending the Cyclones to the
line. But much like the LSSAA finals, the Cyclones
were clutch at the end, with Alex DeCarolis and Joe
Rocca each making their two free throws on route to
the 53-45 victory.
"Hats of
to McGregor,"
says Ellsley. "They played hard, shot the ball very
well and did what they needed to do to keep it close
and we were lucky to hang on."
After
their victory
on Saturday Ellsley explained
his team didn't have its usual practice against an
unknown team.
"It is
very hard because you don't see them a lot and you
try and prepare for all possible
contingencies," Ellsley added. "We didn't look very
prepared today."
With the
victory the Cyclones move on to the finals of
SWOSSAA where they will play Essex.
"We'll
pratice a couple of times over the weekend and
hopefully we'll bring a much better effort."
Game time
is set for Monday at 6:00p.m. at St. Christopher's.
Follow Sarniasports on twitter
@sarniasports.
Get up to the minute news, and live scores
as they happen from local events. |
