Falcons Down Vikings, 47-38 Behind Rennard’s 19
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–The fourth ranked St. Joe’s Falcons won 47-38 over fifth ranked South Brunswick at SBHS on opening night. Steve Rennard led the way for St. Joseph’s with a game high 19 points on seven field goals including two threes along with several free throws for 19 points. Arman Wilson lead the way in a losing effort for the Vikes with 18 points on eight field goals including a three, and a foul shot along with seven rebounds. It was tied at 17-17, with 1:07 left in the second quarter when Rennard picked off a pass from Troy Confessore, and took it in for a layup as he was fouled. The sophomore guard, then made the bonus free throw for the conventional three point play, which changed the complexion of the entire game. Leading, 20-18 at halftime, the Falcons took command of the game by opening the second half with the first nine points for a 29-18 lead midway through the third.
It was a typical tough battle for both teams, which have become fierce rivals in recent years. Rennard led all scorers with 19. With the score reading 35-27 in the fourth, Confessore missed a wide open three which led to a St. Joe’s fast break, that culminated in a three pointer by Rennard that iced the game. Chipping in for the winners on opening night were juniors Nikko Vastola and Gerard Lewis, who each had 10 points while Paul Konopacki chipped in with six. Sean Lease helped out in a losing effort for the Vikings with 6 points on two field goals and a pair of free throws while reserve, Chris Weir added 5 points on a three and a field goal. Jordan Teicher, Mohammed Sanu, and Confessore all helped round out the scoring with two points each.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph’s (1-0) | 13 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 47 |
| South Brunswick (0-1) | 13 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 38 |