For The Dialog
MILLTOWN – Salesianum entered their matchup with St. Mark’s on Feb. 12 looking to control the pace, and the Sals did in the second half, taking a 50-40 decision. It was the second battle of the Holy War in 13 days.
The Sals got off to a fast start as Kasai Guthrie scored on an inside move, and Michael Kempski added a fast-break layup after a Spartans turnover. Guthrie scored twice more down low, giving the visitors a quick 8-2 lead.
St. Mark’s chipped away at the lead thanks to foul shooting, along with a jumper by Chris Ludman and a buzzer-beating layup by Jamai Rice. The Sals led, 12-9, after one quarter.
Luke Bianchino started the second with a three-pointer, but the Spartans responded with a six-point run to tie it at 15. Salesianum finally got the ball inside to 6-8 freshman Tariq Ingraham, who scored the next four points. St. Mark’s successfully slowed the pace and got to within two at the half.
Sallies scored the first four points of the second half, but Ludman and Sean Gilardi each hit field goals to trim the deficit to 23-21. An old-fashioned three-point play by Ingraham, however, took the lead back to five. The lead grew to seven before the quarter ended, and it was a four-point Salesianum advantage heading into the final stanza.
That is when the Sals took over. The opened the fourth with a 10-0 run covering the first four minutes, with a three-ball by Duncan Trerotola making it 42-28. Salesianum hit eight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
St. Mark’s is giving up just 38 points per game, but Salesianum managed 51 and 50 in their two victories over the Spartans this year.
Ingraham paced the Sals with 14 points and nine rebounds. Salesianum, which improved to 9-7, travels to Friends on Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. tip.
The Spartans were led by Rice with 13, while Ludman added 12. They fell to 11-5 and will play at Wilmington Charter on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
