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Lancer Lowdown Return to TedSilary.com Home Page Luke Sawick graduated from Bishop McDevitt in 2009. Aside from being a football-baseball player, he was the manager/statistician for the basketball team and had an interest in writing. Whoa! A quadruple threat (smile). He attended the McDevitt-Judge playoff game and asked to do a report. Very cool!
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FEB. 13
CATHOLIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS/FIRST ROUND
McDevitt 56, Judge 46
Bishop McDevitt Basketball is a name not exactly synonymous with
post-season success. But when the e-mail from the Alumni Association came in on
Sunday that they would host their first playoff game in a number of years I knew
I had to attend. And this morning I received an e-mail from Jack Rutter
saying "Thanks for coming! Great to see you there! Have you finished your report
for Ted yet?" For those who don't know Jack, you can't say no to him.
There was a very nice sized crowd mixed with Alumni and current students
and the section behind the Lancer bench was packed and excited. The game seemed
to begin with both teams feeling out their opponent. At the end of the first
quarter one thing was very evident -- McDevitt was faster and more athletic than
Father Judge. In the first half Judge played a zone defense which seemed to
work well, they were forcing McDevitt to settle for jumpers and Judge was
winning the rebounding battle in McDevitt's end. The Lancers were able to get
some timely shots from outside of the arc by the likes of Dural Watson
and Tymere Wilder, and some strength underneath from Tyrell Long,
who was very active inside the paint. Long rebounded well and had some nice
buckets but more noticeably continued to fight for rebounds, thus extinguishing
Judge's opportunity to transition quickly.
On the other end of the court McDevitt played half court man and because
of their athleticism they forced some turnovers leading to transition buckets.
But Judge did find some success driving the lane and catching defenders cheating
for some kick out jumpers. At the half McDevitt held a three-point lead. After
one half something was very clear about the game, the referees were very content
on letting the boys play. On both ends of the court there was plenty of contact
by the basket but few whistles or stoppages.
The second half began and the adjustments both teams made in their
"locker room" -- or as Ted pointed out, classroom -- were immediately clear.
Judge switched to a half court man while McDevitt went full court man. The
switch to man to man for Father Judge revealed the outstanding ball-handling
skills of PG Kenyatta Long. In the second half Long weaved in and out of
the defense, several times sending the student section into an uproar, and
either finishing himself or dishing to a teammate for a bucket. Defensively the
Lancers found success in the press, as their athleticism forced several
turnovers that led to breakaway baskets for the Lancers. The Crusaders seemed
to have a difficult time adjusting to the new defense, but early in the fourth
quarter made a run to nearly even the score.
Coach Rutter used a time-out and McDevitt came out and once again
determined the tempo of the game. The ballhandling skills of Long were the key
to the home-stretch success of the Lancers. They closed out the game on an 11-2
run including a very nice layup and one from Carl Garner, which erupted
the crowd and pretty much removed any doubt from the crowd that McDevitt would
win. The first win in the playoffs in 25 years and yet the team still carried
themselves with class, showing that the team was a direct reflection of their
Coach.
Notes
- The referees continued to let them play in the second half. For the exact
breakdown of the time run off the clock in between whistles, contact Mr. Karl
Stout, who has been keeping track of the obscure statistic in all McDevitt
Basketball games since 1999.
- Mr. David Luby displayed his outstanding acoustic accoutrement
throughout the game. It couldn't have been easy filling the enormous shoes of
Fr. Bill Chiriaco (legendary voice/DJ of Lancer Athletics) but Mr. Luby
did a great job.
- Kenyatta and Tyrell Long were the players of the game. As Ted pointed out
they played in the same AAU program but on separate teams, BUT they did play and
win a championship on the same team at the 2008 Bishop McDevitt Basketball Camp,
coached by yours truly. Yes, I take full credit. No, I am not available for
private lessons.
- But really I am glad the two of them did not listen to what I said and had
other coaches who knew what they were talking about because they are very good
players.