Jones Takes the Initiative in Notre Dame Win, 61-54

It looked as though the basketball game between St. Francis and Notre Dame highs was destined to be decided by the narrowest of margins.

Nine times the lead changed hands and three times the score was tied in the fourth quarter, Tuesday night in a Del Rey League game at Notre Dame.

But in the final four minutes, St. Francis was unable to keep up with Brian Jones. The 6-4 junior guard scored 10 fourth-quarter points to propel Notre Dame (6-6, 1-0) to a 61-54 win in the league opener for both teams.

With the score tied, 41-41, after three quarters, Jones made a layup and swished a jumper from the free-throw line. St. Francis center Dominic Mumolo answered with a layup and a jumper. The teams continued to trade baskets until St. Francis’ Alan Freemon knotted the score at 49-49.

But Jones, who consistently muscled inside, then made the biggest play of the game. With 3:58 to play, he rebounded his own missed shot and laid it in while drawing a foul from Aaron Villegas. Jones’ aggressive three-point play triggered an 11-point run by the Knights.

“I guess I had a size advantage,” said Jones, who scored a season-high 24 points. “We just started hustling.”

What made Notre Dame’s win even more impressive was that the Knights played without leading scorer Bruce Heicke. Heicke, who is averaging 20 points a game, strained his knee during practice last week but should return for Notre Dame’s game against Crespi on Thursday night, Coach Mike Cady said.

“He went down and instead of us saying ‘Oh, shoot,’ we went to a couple of other players,” Cady said.

One was forward Ken Hicks, who scored 13 points, nine in the first half, as the Knights took a 27-22 halftime lead. Another was center Ed Cogan who scored eight points in the second half and finished with 10.

“The coach just told us to settle down,” Cogan said. “We were running a little ragged and they kept catching us.”

Said Cady: “They didn’t substitute much and I knew they didn’t have much of a bench. I knew they wouldn’t have much at the end.”

But Notre Dame did, making 8 of 10 shots in the fourth quarter. Cogan made a layup and two free throws in the final two minutes. Jones made a layup and made a free throw to give Notre Dame a 10-point lead with 1:25 to play.

“We always hustle, but Jones got away from us a bit,” St. Francis Coach John Jordan said. “His teammates set some good picks for him, too, and he took advantage of that.

“I hate to lose our opener.”

Villegas and guard Frank Lagattuta each scored 12 points to lead St. Francis (7-7, 0-1). Tom Fell added 11 points, including a three-point shot and the Golden Knights’ final five points.