For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Four Salesianum seniors started Feb. 20 when the Sals hosted Sussex Tech in a nonconference basketball game, and the veterans helped their team take a 67-55 battle against the winless Ravens.
The seniors, along with sophomore Paul Brown, stayed in the game for the entire first quarter and put up 19 points. Brown led the way with six, but all four seniors scored. Luke Bianchino had five to lead the seniors in the first.
Freshman Tariq Ingraham made his presence felt in the second quarter, scoring back-to-bak baskets to give the Sals a 26-29 lead. The margin remained at seven points at the half, but it was the Ravens who stormed out of the locker room to start the third.
Sussex Tech went on a 20-7 run to take a 43-37 lead with 1:30 left in the third. Ingraham cut the lead to four on an inside move, and Fahmir Ali stole the inbounds pass and was fouled. Ali made both free throws to cut it to 43-41. Bianchino followed with a three-point shot to give the Sals a 44-43 lead and followed with another in the closing seconds of the quarter after Tech had scored. That three restored the Sals’ lead at 47-45.
Salesianum continued to dial long distance in the final quarter as Bianchino hit another, and freshman Trevon Alderman went back-to-back from distance. Those were part of an 18-6 run that increased the lead to 65-53.
Bianchino led the way with 16 points, including four threes. “My teammates found me, and we worked well as a team tonight,” he said.
Ingraham and Alderman each added 10 for the 11-8 Sals. They play at Concord to finish the regular season on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m.
