(Darnell Butts of Dunkirk works inside against LG Castillo & Noah Speyer of Lancaster/Photo: John Rogowski)

 

Dunkirk 75, Lancaster 73

After a three-year run as Lancaster Tip-Off Tournament champions, the host Legends were dethroned by a skilled and scrappy team from Dunkirk.  The Marauders trailed by 14 points at halftime and saw their deficit reach 16 points midway through the third quarter, before a gritty fourth quarter brought them all the way back for the victory.  After a highly entertaining opening quarter that yielded Dunkirk a 19-18 lead, the Legends outscored the Marauders, 18-3 in the second quarter, holding them to a single field goal and buliding a 36-22 halftime lead.

 

"We said at halftime, we just played an awful quarter," Dunkirk coach Jack O'Brien said.  "If we can box out, take care of the ball, and make a couple shots, we'll get back in it."

 

Devaun Farnham connected on three 3-pointers in the third quarter for Dunkirk, part of a 13-4 run that closed the gap to 51-44 in the final seconds of the third.  However, Lancaster's Vito Fulciniti, who registered a game-high 20 points on the evening, banked in a 3-pointer from beyond halfcourt as the buzzer rang to end the third and re-establish a double figure advantage.

 

Evon Hernandez scored back-to-back buckets, including a traditional three-point play, early in the fourth for Dunkirk.  The senior would wind up dropping 13 of his team-high 16 points in the quarter, and infused the team with the last boost of energy needed to overcome the gap on the scoreboard.  

 

"He is an unbelievable kid," O'Brien said of Hernandez.  "To have a senior leader play the way he did in the fourth quarter, you expect nothing less from Evon – he's that type of kid."

 

Trailing 68-64 with 1:38 remaining, Dunkirk mounted an 11-0 run in a little over one minute, to take a 75-68 lead and hold on for the win.

 

"Our guys fight, there was not a head hanging in that locker room at half," said O'Brien.

 

Noah Sobilo finished with 15 points for the victors, while fellow junior Darnell Butts added 13 points.  Coming off an extended football season, this team with mostly underclassmen in its rotation showed no signs rust to start the winter sports season.

 

"We're still a work in progress, but with the resilience and fight that these guys have, we're going to be in games all year," said O'Brien.  "They love playing together."

 

Point Totals

Dunkirk:  Evon Hernandez 16, Noah Sobilo 15, Darnell Butts 13, Devaun Farnham 10, Tyreek Buchanan-Ruiz 9, Issiah Velez 8, Tyreese Kristan-Johnson 4

Lancaster:  Vito Fulciniti 20, Alec Tamburri 11, Connor Duck 11, Noah Speyer 9, LG Castillo 7, Jakob Jerebko 7, Collin Reformat 4, Tyler Sokolowski 2, Ryan Mansell 2

 

Health Sciences 80, Cleveland Hill 51

The Falcons jumped on Cleveland Hill early, pressing the Eagles into turnovers and challenging them to get into their offense.  Health Sciences quickly took a double-digit advantage in the game and were able to maintain that lead throughout the first half.

 

Despite recovering from the early onslaught and playing mostly even with Health Sciences in the second quarter, Cleveland Hill fell victim to the same pressure that had put them in the hole early on, when the second half began.  The Falcons started the half on a 15-4 run, which effectively put the game away.

 

Tyron Lott led Health Sciences with a game-high 22 points, doing all of his damage in the first three quarters.  Wize Threat connected from downtown on three occasions and finished with 17 points, while Davonte Gaines added 13 points in the win.

 

Paul Woodward led Cleveland Hill with 11 points and Chase Johnson chipped in 10 points.

 

Point Totals

Health Sciences:  Tyron Lott 22, Wize Threat 17, Davonte Gaines 13, Kameron Briggs 7, Tayvion Nelson 6, JaQuon Renfro 5, Tysheen Lott 4, Shakir Cook 4, Kavon Fears 2

Cleveland Hill:  Paul Woodward 11, Chase Johnson 10, Freddrick Johnson 9, Tyler Phillips 8, Izayah Walker 3, Aaron Wahler 2, DeVonte McGee 2, Naszir Nance 2

 

Dunkirk will face Health Sciences in the tournament championship game on Friday night at 7:30 pm.  The game will be preceeded by Lancaster taking on Cleveland Hill in the consolation game starting at 6 pm.

 

-centercourt