Harvard Stays in the Black, 58-51 : Win Forges Tie With Chaminade Atop Sante Fe League
Kevin Black spent Friday night playing a not-so-friendly game of one-on-five against Harvard High.
Every time Chaminade had the ball, the 6-7 center found himself surrounded by the entire Harvard team.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, none of Black’s teammates could come to the rescue and Harvard won handily, 58-51.
Chaminade (10-6) had traveled to Harvard (11-4) unbeaten in league play. The victory leaves the teams tied atop the Santa Fe League standings with 6-1 records.
“When you’ve got five people around you it’s pretty tough,” Black said. “I got some shots at the end of the game, but that was desperation.”
Thirteen of Black’s 23 points came in the fourth quarter as the Eagles drew back from a 15-point deficit. But it was too little, too late.
The Saracens knew that to stop Chaminade, they had to stop Black, the Eagles’ leading scorer. So Harvard played a sagging defense that clogged the lane and dared Chaminade to shoot from the perimeter.
“We didn’t know whether they could shoot from the outside,” said Harvard Coach Greg Hilliard. “We said, ‘Let’s see if they can beat us from out there.’ They seemed a little reluctant to shoot the ball.”
The strategy worked against the taller, stronger Eagles. Chaminade forward Scott Stuber managed but eight points and only two Chaminade players scored in double figures. The Eagles’ starting guards accounted for only four points.
Meanwhile, Harvard’s leading scorer, Steve Green, hit consistently from outside to finish with 21 points.
And, as a pleasant surprise for the Saracens, 6-3 center Mike Lowe played one of his best games of the season against a much taller, more-heralded opponent.
Lowe finished with 18 points and out-rebounded Black, 17 to 9. Unlike Black, however, Lowe had plenty of help from his friends.
The game began sluggishly, with both teams shooting poorly and turning the ball over. Harvard took a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Three straight Chaminade turnovers midway through the second quarter sent Harvard on a 9-2 run and the Saracens never trailed. They lead by 12 at the half and by 14 at the end of the third quarter.
Forward John Carolan came off the bench for the Eagles to score 10 and guard Steve Hurdle added four.
Mike Patterson scored nine for Harvard.
