For The Dialog
NEW CASTLE – William Penn used solid defense to upset Salesianum, 49-39, in the Colonials’ season opener Tuesday night. Senior Daniel Walsh scored 20 points to lead the 10th-ranked winners, who were playing four new starters for second-year coach Stephen Christensen.
It was the sixth-ranked Sals who got off to the quick start as Paul Brown had a big dunk and Michael Kempski hit a three on the way to an 11-2 lead. The Colonials settled down, with Walsh hitting a three-pointer and another jumper to bring them within 14-7. Freshman Tariq Ingraham of Salesianum scored four of his eight points in the second quarter as the Sals extended their lead to 10 at halftime, 25-15.
Penn started strong in the third quarter, while an early field goal by Brown was the Sals’ only offense for six minutes. By the time the quarter ended with an Ingraham bucket, the Colonials had taken the lead, 33-32.
Walsh scored Penn’s only field goal in the fourth, but the team hit 14 of 26 free throws to grow its lead. Salesianum also had just one bucket in the quarter, as the team had trouble finding the big men inside.
“I am happy with our help defense,” Christensen said. “I didn’t want their bigs to kill us.”
Walsh said it was nice to finally defeat the Sals. “Hopefully it gives us confidence against Smyrna, who knocked us out of the postseason last year.”
The Sals (1-1) are off for 10 days and will host Malvern Prep (Pa.) on Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Colonials (1-0) welcome Smyrna on Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
