2008 Woodie Awards
Pioneers fall short despite second half run
Steve Conoscenti
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Sports
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The Sacred Heart men's basketball team tried some second half heroics of their own this time around, but the efforts to erase a 28-point deficit came up short as it lost to Central Connecticut, 80-68.
"I'm kind of dumbfounded," said coach Dave Bike. " I misread this game, I thought we were ready."
Bike wasn't the only one dumbfounded inside the Pitt Center Monday night as the Blue Devils opened up the game on a 23-6 run.
Central junior guard Tristan Blackwood contributed nine points to the run, hitting three 3-pointers in the first eight minutes. Blackwood finished with 27 on the night.
"That's one of the best performances I've seen of a guy using his speed, getting and making shots," said Bike.
Senior guard Jarrid Frye started the game off forcing a turnover and driving in for an easy lay-up. Following a bucket by Liam Potter and two free throws by Chauncey Hardy, Sacred Heart found themselves on the short end of a mini 10-0 run.
With 4:47 remaining in the half, Sacred Heart was in a 20-point hole. Another Tristan Blackwood three ballooned the lead up to 23, the largest lead of the half.
Sacred Heart finished the first half with only 19 points, matching their lowest point total for any half this season (vs. UConn, Nov. 29).
Sacred Heart, the top rated offense in the conference, failed to convert on a three-point field goal in the first half, missing all four attempts. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils, the conference's top rated defense, forced 13 Pioneer turnovers.
"I guess sometimes you have halves like that," said Luke Granato, junior, Rocky Hill.
Sacred Heart started the second half just as flat as they started the game, missing open shots and allowing equally as open shots. Showing some signs of life, the Pioneers, led by Jarrid Frye went on a 10-0 run of their own. A Ryan Litke 3-pointer cut the lead to 15.
Back-to-back threes by Granato gave the Pioneers a glimmer of hope at a comeback, but big buckets by Blackwood and forward Obie Nwadike sealed the deal for the Blue Devils.
"It was an awful lot to recover from but we didn't quit, we knew we could come back," said Granato.
Jarrid Frye led the Pioneers with 14 points but struggled from the field, shooting only 6-of-15. Luke Granato was the only other Sacred Heart player in double digits with 11.
With the NEC tournament vastly approaching, and every home game provides a chance to boost playoff standings. Despite a promising comeback attempt in the second half, coach Bike knows teams need to play 40 minutes to win.
"You don't get something for winning a half, but losing the game," said Bike.
"I'm kind of dumbfounded," said coach Dave Bike. " I misread this game, I thought we were ready."
Bike wasn't the only one dumbfounded inside the Pitt Center Monday night as the Blue Devils opened up the game on a 23-6 run.
Central junior guard Tristan Blackwood contributed nine points to the run, hitting three 3-pointers in the first eight minutes. Blackwood finished with 27 on the night.
"That's one of the best performances I've seen of a guy using his speed, getting and making shots," said Bike.
Senior guard Jarrid Frye started the game off forcing a turnover and driving in for an easy lay-up. Following a bucket by Liam Potter and two free throws by Chauncey Hardy, Sacred Heart found themselves on the short end of a mini 10-0 run.
With 4:47 remaining in the half, Sacred Heart was in a 20-point hole. Another Tristan Blackwood three ballooned the lead up to 23, the largest lead of the half.
Sacred Heart finished the first half with only 19 points, matching their lowest point total for any half this season (vs. UConn, Nov. 29).
Sacred Heart, the top rated offense in the conference, failed to convert on a three-point field goal in the first half, missing all four attempts. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils, the conference's top rated defense, forced 13 Pioneer turnovers.
"I guess sometimes you have halves like that," said Luke Granato, junior, Rocky Hill.
Sacred Heart started the second half just as flat as they started the game, missing open shots and allowing equally as open shots. Showing some signs of life, the Pioneers, led by Jarrid Frye went on a 10-0 run of their own. A Ryan Litke 3-pointer cut the lead to 15.
Back-to-back threes by Granato gave the Pioneers a glimmer of hope at a comeback, but big buckets by Blackwood and forward Obie Nwadike sealed the deal for the Blue Devils.
"It was an awful lot to recover from but we didn't quit, we knew we could come back," said Granato.
Jarrid Frye led the Pioneers with 14 points but struggled from the field, shooting only 6-of-15. Luke Granato was the only other Sacred Heart player in double digits with 11.
With the NEC tournament vastly approaching, and every home game provides a chance to boost playoff standings. Despite a promising comeback attempt in the second half, coach Bike knows teams need to play 40 minutes to win.
"You don't get something for winning a half, but losing the game," said Bike.
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