BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Rested USDHS Cruises Past St. Augustine to Reach Final

Little more than a week ago USDHS gained the No. 1 seed in the Division III boys’ basketball Section playoffs.

With the top billing, the Dons received a bye into the semifinals and a 10-day layoff that Coach Jim Toomey feared would force his team to enter the playoffs cold and get shackled in its first outing.

Well, the 10-day layoff had only a rejuvenating effect on USDHS, which cruised by rival St. Augustine, 90-69, Tuesday night in one Division III semifinal and now awaits Thursday night’s final against Lincoln at Golden Hall.

Peter Ellis, a 6-foot-3 senior center, gave the Dons an early lead. He scored from underneath just seconds into the game, then came back less than a minute later and hit a three-pointer.

Ellis scored eight more points in the first as USDHS stretched an eight-point lead. Ellis finished the game with a game-high 27 points.

Although USDHS took the early lead, and despite what the final might indicate, the first half was anything but a blowout.

The Dons’ largest lead of the half was 11, 41-30, but that lasted only seconds as St. Augustine came back with eight points in a minute’s span.

It was in the third that USDHS flustered St. Augustine with its man defense. While the Saints were missing their shots, the Dons grabbed the rebounds and started fast break after fast break and outscored St. Augustine, 26-16, in the quarter.

“We’re a defensive team,” Toomey said. “And everything starts with defense on our ballclub. When we make our shots, the we usually have success.

“And that’s not necessarily true with every team. It is with this one because it plays defense. the kids help each other, they communicate . . . it’s a special bunch.”

Three others finished in double figures for USDHS: Eric Barajas, 18, Dave Withers and Brian Duplessis, each with 11. Bryan Cantwell led St. Augustine with 17.