GMC Hoops Summary–Metro Classic Showcase

February 17, 2014 Greg Machos St. Joseph's Hoops 0

By Anthony Colucci, St. Joseph’s Beat Writer

Montverde Outlasts St. Joe’s

Down at the start of the fourth quarter 62-57 and facing a ranking and morale destroying upset, Brendan Boyle’s lone basket of the day not only saved Montverde’s national standing but also made his dad, legendary St. Patrick’s head coach, Kevin Boyle’s return to the Garden State that much sweeter completing a sweep of the Metro Classic at Kean University.

On the Eagles’ first possession of the fourth quarter after trailing from tipoff, Boyle netted a three point attempt to cut the St. Joe’s lead to 62-60, sparking a 14-0 run which powered Montverde to a 79-70 win.

“Brendan hitting that three-pointer definitely gave us a boost bringing us back within two points,” 6-9 LSU commit Ben Simmons said, “We were looking at as we were only down two so we might as well get it.”

After Boyle’s trifecta, Jalyn Patterson made two consecutive layups to give Montverde their first lead of the day with 6:44 remaining in the game. Ohio State signee De’Angelo Russell then scored seven straight points to stretch the Eagle lead to 71-62 with under five minutes to play.

Wade Baldwin eventually broke through for St. Joe’s with a layup with 2:46 left in the game but Montverde kept coming. Another Russell layup and two highlight reel dunks from Simmons to finish off both of their 24 point performances were able to retire the Falcons.

Keeping pace with and outplaying Montverde through the first three quarters, St. Joe’s played one of its best games of the season as a team with four players in double figures; Karl Towns led the Falcons with 24 while Baldwin scored 12 and Marques Townes added 10 in the loss. St. Joe’s was converting free throws and creating turnovers early on but Coach Boyle once again was able to make an effective midgame adjustment.

“We started the second half and the press was really working but then we gave up a couple baskets and Roy (Labrador, assistant head coach) suggested we just get back,” Boyle said. “We basically said ‘Let’s get back, stay behind the ball and make them score over us.’ And it worked.”

Even after the loss, the Falcons are not done and move into the GMC and state tournaments as a better team and maybe with a little chip on their shoulders.

“We’re only going go up from now,” St. Joe’s sophomore guard Breein Tyree who provided 17 points. “This is a rough loss but in a way, we needed this to come together as team. I think we’ll build off this day.”