Wednesday, January 05, 2000
Purcell Marian 64, McNicholas 50
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Purcell Marian basketball coach Mike Gergen becomes quiet on the bench, his players know it's time to turn it on.
Trailing throughout the first three quarters, the Cavaliers rallied down the stretch to hand McNicholas a 64-50 loss Tuesday in Greater Catholic League North Division action at McNicholas.
The victory enables Purcell Marian to retain a one-game lead over Kettering Alter with McNicholas falling two games behind. Alter and Purcell Marian meet Friday at Purcell Marian.
Purcell Marian's Jaime Cooper scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to trigger a 23-11 run. Senior guard Brandon Salamone helped with two steals and four points and Hewitt Cooper had a key steal and scored on a layup to push the Cavaliers into an eight-point lead at 51-43.
Senior center Doug Swann also scored off an offensive rebound with the Cavaliers up four and Keith Jackson came up with four rebounds and two blocked shots during the final quarter.
“During practices, we've learned that coach Gergen says very little when we're not playing hard,” Salamone said. “He was real quiet after the first quarter and we got the message.”
The time appeared right for an upset of the Cavaliers.
Purcell Marian is ranked No.1 in The Cincinnati Enquirer's Division II-IV poll and were coming into the game off three victories to win the prestigious Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina.
“We were tired, beat up and bruised from the trip,” Salamone said.0
After falling behind 10-2 in the first quarter, Purcell Marian gradually pulled back into the game. It took its first lead at 35-34 midway through the third quarter and led 41-39 entering the fourth quarter.
“Four of our starters are sick with the flu but played through it,” Gergen said. “We kept running players in and out and at the end of the game we were still pushing the ball which was encouraging.”
McNicholas coach Jerry Doerger made no excuses.
“We gave it to them,” Doerger said. “They wanted it and we didn't.”
Defense is what turned the game around for Purcell Marian.
Using a full-court pressure and taking advantage of their superior quickness and height, the Cavaliers forced 15 second-half turnovers, nine in the fourth quarter.
“We told the kids coming into the game that McNicholas didn't care what we had done in South Carolina,” Gergen said. “They came out and played hard while we were a little flat .”
PURCELL MARIAN (64) — Salamone 4 0 10, Fullman 3 0 6, J. Cooper 7 6 20, Fulks 0 2 2, H. Cooper 5 0 10, Jackson 4 2 10, Swann 3 0 6. Totals: 26 10 64.
McNICHOLAS (50) — Hensley 1 0 3, Dyment 4 0 8, Cupito 2 0 4, Schneider 4 0 8, Sheehy 5 2 13, Popelar 1 0 2, Brothers 0 2 2, Peery 1 0 2, Chrin 3 0 8. Totals: 21 4 50.
Purcell Marian ....... 6 20 18 23—64
McNicholas ....... 14 14 11 11—50
3-pointers: PM—Salamone 2. M—Hensley, Sheehy, Chrin 2. Records: M 6-3 (GCLN 2-2); P 7-0, 4-0 GCL.
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