Dialog reporter
GREENVILLE – Salesianum’s boys basketball team shook off a slow start against Tatnall on Dec. 20, finding their stroke and going on to a 52-45 win. The Sals, ranked sixth in the latest 302Sports.com top 10, remained unbeaten with the win at 4-0.
The Sals missed their first six shots, and in between those attempts, the host Hornets picked up a pair of identical baseline three-point shots from Andre Ward. The drought ended when Jack Brown nailed a three of his own. That would start a run of seven points for Salesianum, and the first period ended with the Sals in front, 7-6.
Devon Jones of Tatnall scored the first field goal of the second quarter to put the Hornets back in front, and the teams traded the lead for a few possessions. A six-point run for the Sals began after Brown missed two free throws. The second shot hit the front of the rim, and Brown crashed the lane unchecked for the rebound and putback. His brother, Paul, then scored on a finger roll after an offensive rebound, and Darnell Vaughan completed the run with a 14-footer from just inside the foul line.
While the Sals owned the inside game, Tatnall did nearly all of its first-half damage from distance. Jeron Phillips pulled the Hornets to within two at 16-14 on the team’s fourth three-pointer, and after Jack Brown got those back on an old-fashioned three, Ward drained his third triple of the half. Not to be outdone, Max Ferrante went for a three in the final minute of the half, and the lead was five at the break.
Robert Secundy hit a pair of threes early in the third quarter for the Hornets – the second one cut the Sals’s lead to four – but he had to leave the game when he was accidentally poked in the eye. The Hornets fought on without him, and Ward knotted the score at 30 when he drove for a layup, drew a foul and completed the three-point play. Devon Jones’ free throw with 2:27 left gave Tatnall is first lead since midway through the first quarter.
Salesianum recaptured the lead on another mini-streak, this one of five points. Rasheen Caulk scored on a baseline jumper, and Michael Wallace connected on a triple.
The Brown brothers combined for 13 of the Sals’ 17 fourth-quarter points as the team erased any thoughts of a Hornets upset.
Jack Brown led the Sals with 15, while brother Paul had 12. Next up for Salesianum is a trip to Chester High School (Pa.) on Friday, where the opponent is Friends Central (Pa.) in the Rondae Jefferson Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Ward led all scorers with 16. The Hornets (1-4) complete a four-game homestand on Dec. 28 when Caesar Rodney visits for a 5 p.m. tilt.
