February
14, 2005
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PARAMUS -- There's something about a Group 1 school that can come into the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Jamboree two years in a row, face a Parochial NNJIL power and take them down to the wire. Moral victories for sure, but don't tell that to Westwood.
Maybe last year the Cardinals could have passed off the 47-42 loss as a moral victory, but Westwood had a different purpose this time around. Don Bosco was once again frustrated by the defensive tactics, something they rarely if ever see in the run-and-gun NNJIL, but the Ironmen were able to prevail, pulling off a 42-38 victory that sets up a 6:00 p.m. semifinal matchup with Paramus Catholic next Friday at the Rothman Center.
In much the same way as last year, Westwood did a great job of team defense, causing the Ironmen to have to switch their tactics.
"We knew coming in they've been playing well and know how to win," DB head coach Kevin Diverio commented. "This is the second year in a row that they've come in here and caused us problems, taking the big guys out of the game."
The Cardinals also got a big lift from Sam Hayes, who buried a trio of first half three-pointers and had 14 points and 4 treys in the game. His offense helped offset the difficulties of Corey Raji, who picked up a pair of fouls trying to block Carl Augustin drives on the baseline.
"We came in today feeling we could go toe to toe with them and play with them, and we felt we could beat them," Westwood head coach Kevin Brentnall said. "We just didn't make the shots we normally make."
Still, the Cards were within 20-16 at the half as they were able to move Pete Brown off the blocks. The Bosco center had three straight baskets to open the second quarter, but after that he found the going much tougher.
"Their kid bangs the threes and we miss six layups in the first half," Diverio said.
"I missed some easy layups, and I got frustrated and it got in my head," Brown admitted, "but we had guys step up for us."
Westwood twice cut the lead to two in the third quarter, the last time at 26-24 on a Hayes putback of an offensive rebound. The Ironmen (16-2) then had a key spurt, putting up six straight points. Brown had a dunk, Trevor Harris drove the baseline and Biggs knocked down a jumper. The streak was stemmed by a Raji free throw, leaving Westwood down 32-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Raji picked up a third foul trying to stuff Augustin in the third quarter, and it may have had an effect on his offense. He had nine points through the first three, finishing with 14 to go along with 16 rebounds.
"In the games we had seen, we knew he likes to block shots," Diverio noted, "which leads to either great plays or foul trouble."
"He needs to learn even as a big kid to step in and take charges," Brentnall said of his sophomore center. "You can't block every shot and that's were he gets in trouble."
Anthony Brown hit a three for Westwood (14-4) to start the fourth, and the teams traded baskets, Eric Walsh laying on in for Bosco and Mike Grud answering for the Cardinals at 7:05 remaining. The two teams then went 5:23 without anyone scoring a point, as The Ironmen went 0 for 5 with 2 turnovers and Westwood was 0 for 7 with a turnover.
"The second half they basically made us play on the perimeter," Diverio said. "It doesn't matter how big you are then. If they have two or three guys on you, it's not easy to score."
The dry spell was finally broken by Biggs, who hit a short jumper with 1:42 to go to open the lead to six.
"I try to keep a level head, "Biggs said. "The only thing that frustrated me was the fouls, because I don't like to watch the game from the bench."
Two free throws by Raji made it 38-34 with 1:20 left, and Brown came free for a layup off a cross court pass with 49 ticks showing. Harris put down two foul shots at 21.8, then Raji had a layup and a free throw to make it a five-point game.
Hayes grabbed a turnover and threw up a 28-foot three, which went in with 2.57 on the clock, but Augustin sealed the game with two free throws with 0.8 showing.
"I think our kids showed a little mental toughness," Diverio remarked. "Now we move on."
Biggs was held to 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Brown had 12 points and 7 rebounds for the Ironmen, who were 16 of 42 from the floor and 9 of 14 at the free throw line. Harris had five assists, four in the first half before Westwood choked the passing lanes.
Westwood was only 12 of 40 shooting while making 8 of 12 free throws. They were actually better from behind the arc (6 of 19) than inside (6 of 21).
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