Boys Hoops returned to the hardwood with a 58-56 win over the visiting Northgate Broncos. The Dons combined strong offense in the first and third quarters and intense defense in the second and fourth to seal the win and move their record to 1-0.
The Dons’ long-range threats got off to a hot start, nailing five three-pointers in the first quarter (two apiece by junior Noah Block and senior Graham Smith, and one by senior Scott Ruegg). Newcomer Tyler Murphy, a sophomore, brought his lunch box and hardhat and joined fellow sophomore Jake Davis doing the dirty work, protecting the rim and cleaning the boards. At the end of one, Dons lead 21-20.
The second quarter started with an immediate steal at midcourt by sophomore Theo Stoll, who finished the effort with a layup. While the quarter was predominately marked by strong defense from each team, offensive highlights included a nifty tip-in by Davis and the first high school basket, a three, by freshman Marcus Robinson. At the half, Dons maintain their 1-point lead, 32-31.
Jackson Aris-Dumas, a senior, started the scoring in the third with a clever crossover and clean floater. Davis and Murphy continued their hard work inside, combining for eight in the quarter, before the Dons’ sharpshooters closed the final two minutes with a trio of threes (Robinson two, Smith one). 50-45, Dons.
In the fourth, the Dons struggled on offense and the Broncos pulled into a 53-53 tie with 2:48 remaining. Senior Derek Kotarba quickly untied it with his first three-pointer of the year, and the defense went to work. Holding a 56-55 lead with one minute remaining, the Dons defenders upped the intensity, culminating in Ruegg clamping down on the dribbler and forcing a 5-second turnover with 33 seconds remaining. Seconds later, Ruegg was intentionally fouled and hit two free-throws to up the margin to three, 58-55. With less than ten seconds on the clock, the Dons faced the age-old question: do you intentionally foul when leading by three and little time remaining? Coach Sol Henik wisely answered yes, sending the Broncos to the line with 5 seconds remaining. The strategy proved correct. Dons win 58-56.