Three-Point Spree Can’t Stop Loyola in Win Over Alemany

Just when it appeared Loyola High had closed the refrigerator door and turned the lights out on Alemany Tuesday, the Indians rained three-point bombs on the Cubs to open the door, turn on the lights and start melting the butter.

Alemany, trailing by 21 points in the third period, scored 29 fourth-quarter points to make things interesting before succumbing, 76-70, in a Del Rey League basketball game at Alemany.

“Wins are more interesting,” Alemany Coach Joe Anlauf said. “We just didn’t handle the press real well. That was the difference in the game I think.”

The victory moved Loyola (14-4, 5-1 in league play) into a first-place tie with Notre Dame in the league.

Alemany (7-9 overall), the defending co-champion, fell to 3-3 in league play.

The Indians appeared well on their way to being routed in the third period when the Cubs opened up 21-point leads on two occasions. But then Jon Beauchemin and Dave Berganio began heating up from outside.

Beauchemin, who scored a game-high 28 points, scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, including two three-point shots. He scored 13 of Alemany’s first 15 points of the period, and his offensive rebound and short bank shot brought the Indians to within seven, 63-56, with a little less than five minutes to play.

Loyola pulled away again to lead by 14, 73-59, then Berganio made a pair of three-point shots sandwiched around two Beauchemin free throws, and Alemany trailed, 74-67, with 1:20 left.

A three-point shot by Beauchemin with 36 seconds to play made it 76-70, but the Indians could draw no closer.

“The three-point shot has kind of been our undoing this year, and Alemany’s got the guys who can do it in Berganio and Beauchemin,” said Loyola Coach Bill Thomason, who blames the three-point shot for losses to St. Paul and San Gorgonio.

Berganio finished with 14 points, and center Brian Swanson added 11 points and 10 rebounds. Tony Lopez, starting at forward for Tim Fontenette (flu), had 10 points for the Indians.

Loyola also got 21 points from George Jones.