Two days, two games and two close victories
By Mike Meeropol
Last weekend, the Loretto Knights sixth-grade boys basketball team sweated out two thrilling victories against two teams from St. Augustine’s.
On Jan. 28, after falling behind by 10 points in the third quarter, the Knights stormed back with a swarming pressure defense that forced two crucial turnovers. At one point as the team closed the gap, Matteo Cervone hit four straight free throws.
After taking the lead on a Ryan Eng-Wong layup, the team held on for a 33-32 victory. William Bradley finished with 14 points and Cervone with 12.
At Sunday’s home game, the Knights fell behind 7-0 out of the gate only to come back to take the lead at halftime.
In the second half, St. Augustine battled back, cutting the margin to one point three times over the last two minutes. Roy Smith hit both ends of a crucial one-and-one at the free throw line to provide a three-point cushion, but a clutch three-pointer by St. Augustine brought them to within one with 34 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, the ball was knocked loose out of bounds off St. Augustine.
Loretto set up a play with Cervone going backdoor to receive a pass and banking in a lay-up. He finished with 10 points and Ryan Eng-Wong chipped in eight, while Bradley led the way with 12 points. He finished 9 for 12 from the free-throw line over both games.
The sixth-grade team’s final game is at the Garrison School on Feb. 12 at 2:30 p.m.
Other results
For games played Jan. 28-29
5th-grade girls def. Corpus Christi (Port Chester), 27-2
Maggie Gordineer (8 points), Clara Tripp (7), Sarah Jones (2)
5th-grade boys def. St. Patrick (Armonk), 41-31
Evan Giachinta (15 points), Milo Shuk (12)
5th-grade boys def. Ann Seton (Shrub Oak), 32-29
Giachinta (14), Ryan Van Tassel (12)
6th-grade girls def. Holy Rosary (Hawthorne), 15-4
Fionnoula O’Reilly (8)
6th-grade girls def. St. John and Mary (Katonah)
O’Reilly (7)
6th-grade boys def. St. Augustines Blue (Ossining), 33-32
Will Bradley (14), Matteo Cervone (12)
6th-grade boys def. St. Augustines White (Ossining), 37-34
Bradley (12), Cervone (10), Ryan Eng-Wong (8)
8th-grade boys def. St. John and Mary (Katonah)
Christian Pezzullo (15)
