Big fourth quarter lifts Sacred Heart
Lions take care of Chiefs to end four-game skid
By ANTHONY COPPOLA • Staff Writer • January 12, 2010
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VINELAND -- Some could say Mike DePalma doesn't quite fit in on the Sacred Heart High School boys' basketball team.
But his Lions teammates are sure glad he's on their side.
DePalma, the lone junior on a senior-filled Sacred Heart roster, keyed a fourth-quarter comeback Monday to help lead the Lions past visiting Buena, 70-59, in a Cape-Atlantic League National Conference game.
The victory snapped a four-game winless streak dating back to Dec. 28 for Sacred Heart (2-5).
"I try to feed the seniors the ball and keep them involved as much as possible," said DePalma, who scored seven of his 10 points in the final frame. "The defense started paying attention to other guys and the shots were there for me to make."
Buena's focus rested squarely on Sacred Heart seniors Ryan Hutchings and Mark Ronchetti, who torched the Chiefs (4-3) for a combined 48 points.
But it was DePalma that put the Lions ahead on a midrange jumper, 59-58, with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, followed by a wide open 3-pointer to open a four-point lead.
"When I got the ball I wasn't sure if I should shoot," DePalma said. "But I was feeling the momentum and was able to step up."
Hutchings, who scored a game-high 25 points, praised DePalma for his efforts after the game.
"Coach told us at halftime to pick up the intensity and I think we came out and did that," Hutchings said. "Mike was a big part of it. Not only the jumpers, but on defense too."
Buena, winners in four of its last five contests entering Monday, watched a 29-26 halftime lead fall by the wayside.
Chiefs senior Rashon Brock got off to a blazing start, scoring 10 points in the first two quarters, before being held to just three second-half points. Leading scorer Tyler Hillgrube banked a team-high 14 points for Buena and junior Art Fields netted 12 points on four 3-pointers.
The loss was frustrating for Brock, who said Buena left a chance to build some "major momentum."
"We just came out flat in that second half and didn't do the things that were working for us early on," Brock said. "I felt like we had them, but this one is over now and we just have to move on to the next one."
