The
St.
Christopher
Cyclones
escaped with
a 43-41
victory over
Nicholson
Catholic
College at
the OFSSA
tournament
Tuesday
afternoon,
scoring only
two points
in the final
quarter
while
killing off
the clock to
move on to
the next
round.
In the first
quarter, Joe
Rocca put in
a quick four
points
including
two free
throws, but
the Cyclones
found
themselves
down after
Nicholson
hit a three
pointer and
put in two
under the
boards.
Martin
Popiel would
add four of
his own
including
two free
throws,
while Rocca
would add
his 6th
point of the
quarter as
the Cyclones
lead 14-12
after the
first.
In the
second
quarter Mike
Rocca nailed
a three
pointer to
start the
quarter
while Joe
Rocca hit
two free
throws to
extend the
lead to
19-15. Rocca
would again
go back to
the free
throw line
and make two
more free
throws or a
21-15 lead.
Nicholson comes back with a quick three pointer and the Cyclones almost give up two more quickly on a turnover, but they maintain control. Nicholson comes back with another three to tie the game, but again Joe Rocca find himself at the free throw line and makes 1 free throw.
Eric McDonald puts the Cyclones back up by three with a drive from the outside, but Nicholson makes it a one point game with a long jumper for two. Eric McDonald made the steal at centre and had the easy lay in for two, putting the Cyclones up by three at the half 28-25.
Alex DeCarolis puts down a three pointer to start the second half, but Nicholson quickly follows with a three of their own to make it a 31-28 game. McDonald would drive and get a pass from Popiel for another two on a lay in. Nicholson again comes back and knocks down a long two pointer. Joe Rocca then hits a three pointer to put the Cyclones up 36-30. Zac Lippiatt would make it an 8 point game with a rebound put back for two, making it 38-30 through four minutes of the second half.
Nicholson would start the second part of the quarter nailing three, three pointers to cut the lead to just one, 40-39. The Cyclones would hold on to the lead after the third quarter, but only by a slim two point margin, 41-39.
In the fourth, the Cyclones kept the ball up near half court, killing two minutes off the clock before turning the ball over. Lippiatt would get a huge block in the paint to keep the Cyclones up by two, and back down the floor St. Chris would again kill time off the clock. With half the quarter gone, the score still remained 41-39, and again the Cyclones would turn the ball over on a miss pass.
Of an inbounds Nicholson would tie the game with a jumper off the glass to tie the game at 41-41. The Cyclones would take the clock all the way down to eleven seconds remaining and called a timeout. Eric McDonald would get the chance on the drive but is fouled. He would make make both free throws with only 1.1 seconds remaining. Nicholson could not get a shot off on the inbounds and the Cyclones will move on to the next round with a 43-41 victory.
The Cyclones
will now
take on the
winner of
Loyalist and
St. Thomas
Aquinas at
8:48pm
Tuesday
night.
