St.Anthony topples Bergen Catholic

HS BOYS BASKETBALL
FESTIVE MOOD
Monday, January 08, 2007
By MATT AGNOLI
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
St. Anthony overpowers Bergen Catholic

SOUTH ORANGE - Next, please.
St. Anthony basketball continued to devour New Jersey opponents off its schedule like it was ordering appetizers at a five-star restaurant.

The Big Fish, St. Patrick and St. Benedict's, will have to wait. Both powerhouses played in the weekend festival and won big too, and will certainly pose a significant challenge down the road at the Tournament of Champions.

But first things first.

The Friars (8-0) held court and made it a clean sweep for the Big 3 of New Jersey. Led by Travon Woodall's team-high tying 13 points, they dominated one-loss Bergen Catholic, 73-35, at the Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children Festival at Walsh Gym in South Orange on Saturday afternoon. It was the Friars' third win by 30 points or more this season, and bumped their margin-of-victory average to more than 31 points per contest.

Woodall, a 6-foot junior guard, caused fits in the Crusaders' backcourt, stealing and dealing and dunking to the delight of both fans and the MSG Network, which broadcast the festival and awarded Woodall the player of the game.

"We go 10 deep into the bench," said Woodall, who finished 6-of-10 from the field and collected three steals. "I don't know how other teams can handle that."

They can't, at least thus far.

Mike Rosario wasn't shooting particularly well early but finished with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Tyshawn Taylor (eight points) earned the most style points with a second-half tomahawk jam, and Dominic Cheek scored 12 points, including 3-of-4 on 3-pointers, in 20 minutes played.

The defense smothered the Crusaders, who hit just one of 13 three-point attempts. Bergen Catholic committed 21 turnovers and shot 30.4 percent in the second half. Only John Rigg (10 points) reached double figures.

Despite sitting through long TV timeouts that slowed the tempo early, the Friars waited patiently and soon pulled away late in the second quarter.

"It's easier to slow a team down than it is to make a team play fast," said St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley. "We were really wrestling (through the TV timeouts) to get the tempo up. With that being said, I thought we really played well defensively."

Already ahead 32-15 at the break, Woodall swished a three during an 11-0 run that began on Chris Gaston's post-move with around two minutes in the half. From that point, the pace quickened and a host of Friars displayed their talents. Gaston dunked, Cheek drilled a three and

Woodall exploded to the rim for an incredible block. His teammates then rewarded him quickly, as Woodall soared for an ensuing lay up, completing seven points of the run.

"It was a 2-on-1 and I just wanted to help my teammate out (with the block)," said Woodall. "That's what it's all about."

Woodall, who showed his hops on the block, followed with another surprising feat for a 6-footer - a dunk. He pocketed a steal with the Friars up 25 with three minutes left in the third, then leaped high in the air.

"Two points is two points," said Woodall. "I don't even think he (Coach Hurley) wants us to dunk. He told us no dunking."

The Friars put on a clinic in the second half, filled with high-percentage shots and three-pointers. They hit 51.7 percent (15-of-29) in the half and 5-of 9-on 3s. Also, the Friars finished the game 13-of-16 at the free-throw line.

"Finally we had some wearing effect on them," said Hurley, "because every time we'd break (for TV), the tempo, you lose everything, your rhyme and rhythm.

"In high school you're used to 45 seconds (on timeouts) and you don't even know if (your team) is listening," continued Hurley. "Now it is 90 seconds, and now you're talking too much and you know you're losing them."

Woodall and teammates watched some of St. Patrick's performance earlier. When asked if they did a bit of scouting, he added "We're keeping our eyes open."