Sports

NHP Boys Basketball Fall to Herricks, 53-50

A great effort by junior Kevin Towey wasn't enough for Gladiators.

Despite 27 points from junior guard Kevin Towey, the boys basketball team lost its home opener to rival , 53-50, on Wednesday. The first four minutes of this game started off well for the New Hyde Park (1-1), which jumped in front, 9-4. But Herricks stormed back  and led by as much as 11 points.

Heroes: Without Towey, the game would have been incredibly different. Not only did he score 19 points and sink some three-pointers at times when the team needed a confidence boost, but he also drove the ball up the court well and always seemed to find that open man. Towey also had more than a half dozen rebounds and played some tough defense, having a few steals.

Senior Joseph Justice also made an impressive effort. Though he didn't contribute too much to the team's overall score with his four points, he had some steals and played well defensively.

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Turning Point: The game started to turn against New Hyde Park when Herricks started to make their shots. By the end of the first quarter, Herricks led 12-11. Before that point, Herricks had missed at least seven shots, included one foul shot.

Quotable: "So long as we played hard, I can't be upset," New Hyde Park coach Don Rood said. "We won a close game the other day and we lost a close game today."

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Bottom Line: As Rood said, the Gladiators know how to win down the stretch as they showed against . Against Herricks, Rood encouraged his players to pass the ball more and to set their own pace, which was difficult given the frenetic play dictated by Herricks.  

Key Stat: Weak defense. By Herricks shifting its players around the perimeter and drawing the New Hyde Park players out of the paint, they were able to make some layups through a wide open middle.

What's Next: Consolation game @ New Hyde Park, Friday, 4:30 p.m.


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