Boys Hoops Roundup for Jan. 29

'Birds fall - again

Holy Ghost Prep (HGP) fell to 8-9 overall on the season, dropping a 51-47 contest to Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL) Independence rival Devon Prep Jan. 29 at Chapman Gym.
Up 25-22 at the half, the Ghost was outscored 18-11 in the final frame.

The good news is that the Firebirds are still 6-2 in the BAL Independence Division, though they've dropped two of their last three division games, including a Jan. 23 loss to Christopher Dock.

In last night's game, Phil Pastor led the HGP scoring effort with 14 points. Mike Byrne and Duffy Barrett added 7 points, apiece. John Glenn and Mike Destefano chipped in with 6 points, each. Nate Lorence contributed with 3 points. Owen Kirby and Tyler Juchno scored 2 points, each.

The Pioneers handed the Ghost its first league loss of the season Jan. 23 by shooting 25-for-30 from the free-throw line and outscoring the 'birds by 13 points in the final quarter to win it, 50-40.

Owen Longacre led the way for Dock with 22 points, including 12-for-15 from the line, while Brett Moyer had 13 and was 9-for-11 from the line.

Mike Byrne was the high scorer for Holy Ghost with 11.

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Marcinkowski rocks South

Pennsbury used a career high 14 points from senior forward Tom Marcinkowski and a season high 17 points from senior point guard Eddie DiRugeris in recording a 57-35 triumph over Council Rock South.

Marcinkowski also did a solid job on the backboard by pulling in six rebounds and knocked down a three pointer.

For the Falcons, it was their 56th consecutive SOL National Conference win.

Senior Dalton Pepper registered his tenth double-double of the season with a total of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

DiRugeris and Dante Devine each netted a pair of triples and both wrecked their usual havoc on the opposing team’s ball handlers.

Junior Jesse Krasna handed out five assists and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Pennsbury jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, extending its lead at the end of each quarter of play.

A seven point lead (14-5) at the end of one period extended to a 12-point edge (29-17) at the half.

By the end of the third frame, the Falcons held a 14-point lead (44-30) before capping off the contest with a 22-point margin of victory.

With the Jan. 29 win over the Hawks, Pennsbury pushed its record to 15-2, overall (the team dropped a pair of games over the holidays in South Carolina’s Beach Ball Classic), 12-0 in the SOL National Conference.

The Falcons also defeated CR South just eight days earlier with a 70-55 triumph in enemy territory.


-Steve Sherman, sports editor