Miller and Windsor help St. Joe hang on for a one-point win at St. Frances
1/31/2010
Matt Miller (left) scored 12 points, including the game-winning basket, and David Windsor his a crucial three in the fourth quarter, to lift St. Joe over St. Frances.
Greg Lewis (left) of St. Frances goes up for an inside shot while Tre Clinton defends. (Photo courtesy of Greg O'Hanlon)
St. Joe's Brian Morton (forefront) manuevers inside against the defense of Wayne Sparrow. (Photo courtesy of Greg O'Hanlon)
Mount St. Joseph clinched at least a tie for first place in the tough MIAA A Conference on Sunday afternoon, pulling out a hard fought 69-68 win over St. Frances before an overflow crowd in the Panther's gym.
Meeting for the third time this year, these two titans battled tooth and nail for 32 minutes before the Gaels prevailed behind Matt Miller's game-winning layup with less than 20 seconds to play.
St. Joe led by 11 points at the half, but St. Frances staged a dramatic rally which saw the Panthers catch, then pass the Gaels with six minutes to play. Donte Holmes, who led all scorers with 23 points, including the 1,000th point of his high school career, pulled the Panthers even with a clutch score. Wayne Sparrow, who had a big second half, then added two quick scores as St. Frances built a 59-55 lead.
The Gaels, which saw Eric Atkins, Ryley Beaumont and Miller combine for 48 points, then mounted a comeback of their own.
Beaumont hit a big trey to make it a one-point game with 4:20 to go and then Miller scored to push the Gaels in front by one. Tre Clinton gave St. Joe a one point lead with a pair of free throws, before Sparrow scored to bring the Panthers back within one.
Atkins, who was 8-for-9 from the line, countered with a pair foul shots, but Greg Lewis again sliced the lead to one with an inside score. Perhaps the biggest shot of the game followed when defensive specialist David Windsor drained a three pointer, giving the Gaels a 67-63 advantage. Kerrell Goines added a pair for scores in the final minute to keep St. Frances in the contest, but Miller's final bucket ice the victory.
"That was probably the biggest shot in David's career," said Clatchey. "He was wide open and he drilled it. That was huge."
Both teams started hot, as the Gaels hit 9-of-15, and the Panthers 10 of 16 from the floor in the first eight minutes. The Gaels held a 25-24 first quarter lead.
St. Joe pulled away in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 23-13, and the majority of its points came at the free throw line. Atkins was 6-for-6 from the stripe in the second quarter, and when he hit four in a row in one visit to the line, (two techs and two personals) it gave St. Joe to a comfortable 11 point advantage at intermission. The Gaels shot 84% from the line, and 53% from the floor on the day, and their free throw accuracy turned out to be the difference maker.
The Panthers,who hit 53% from the field, struggled at the line, converting only 6-of-18 attempts (33%).
"Down the stretch we missed a lot of foul shots," lamented the Panthers' Greg Lewis. "If we had made at least 80%, it would have been a better game for us."
St. Frances (16-8) fell to 7-2 in the conference, and St. Joe improved to 26-2 on the year and 12-0 in the league. It was the 15th win in a row for Clatchey's squad.
"We play well together," said Beaumont, a strong candidate for league MVP. "David (Windsor) hit that big three, and Matt (Miller) got open for that layup They were big plays."
The Panthers roared back in the second half, outscoring St. Joe 31-21. They held the Gaels to seven third quarter points.
"This was a tough loss," said Holmes. "We just didn't make our free throws."
Mount St. Joseph 69, St. Frances 68
MSJ - 25 - 23 - 7 - 14 - 69
SF - 24 - 13 - 15 - 16 - 68
MSJ: Atkins 18, Beaumont 17, Miller 12, Windsor 8, Clinton 6, Morton 7. SF: Holmes 23, Williams 8, Sparrow 14, Lewis 7, Cassell 6 , Forney 2, tarver 5, Goines 4.
