July 10, 2008 — The Hoyas showed why they are the two-time defending champions of the Choices Basketball League Tuesday night by dismantling a previously undefeated Legacy squad 98-77.
Six Hoyas scored in double figures in the balanced attack they employed in the game at the St. Croix Central High Gymnasium. In a skillful display of basketball teamwork, the Hoyas were able to push their lead to as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter before cruising to the lopsided victory.
"When we lost that first game, we had to start with five players and no bench because my team came late," said Hoyas Coach Samuel Lee. "We were down as many as 24 points in that game and actually came back to take the lead when the players showed up, but playing from behind took a lot out of us, and we ended up losing."
It was a different story Tuesday night.
"Tonight we came here and we knew that Legacy was undefeated, but we were not worried," Lee said. "I know as long as my team shows up on time it is going to be hard for anybody to beat us in this league. And as good as we were tonight, we are still missing three key players, so I am not worried about other teams — they have to worry about us, because we are the champs."
Legacy's best quarter was the first. Led by three three-pointers by Chris Floyd, they held a one-point lead at 23-22 at the end of the period. Things would basically go downhill from there as the much bigger and overall more talented Hoyas began to show their class.
Led by eight points from Karl "Mike Jones" John, the Hoyas erupted for 29 second-quarter points to take control of the game, while defensively only allowing 18 points to Legacy. Ten of legacy's 18 points in the quarter were as scored by Stephen O' Reilly, who single-handedly tried to keep his team in the game. The Hoyas went into the locker room with a 10-point advantage at 51-41.
Legacy's Floyd opened the second half with his fourth and fifth three-pointers of the game, and quickly his team was back in the game trailing by four at 51-47. The Hoyas, however, responded with a 26-11 run that propelled them to a 19-point lead at 77-58 with 2:57 left in the period. After a two-to-one exchange to end the quarter, the Hoyas held a 21-point advantage at 81-60. John had eight points and Eddie "Hot Sauce" Castillo had seven in the period for the Hoyas as they outscored legacy 30-19.
The lead would swell to as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter, 95-65, before the Hoyas called off the dogs and allowed Legacy some easy baskets for a slightly more respectable 21-point loss.
John led six Hoyas in double figures with a game-high 22 points and 20 rebounds. Teammates Hendricks and Castillo chipped in with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Two other Hoyas finished with 14 points and one finished with 11. Legacy was led offensively by Kyle Sylvester with 20 points and O'Reilly with 15.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
