Notre Dame Grabs Early Lead, Then Hangs On

There could have been plenty of reasons for Notre Dame High losing its first-round game of the Southern California regional Division III basketball playoffs on Tuesday night.

But they weren’t enough to overcome the one reason the Knights won: They were simply a better team than St. Augustine.

Notre Dame dominated early and held on late for a 70-59 victory against the San Diego Section Division III champion Saints at Mesa College.

The Knights were sluggish in the second half for a couple of reasons. First, the team had taken a three-hour bus ride to San Diego in the morning, followed by several hours of hanging around in a hotel, not exactly classic pregame conditions.

Also, the Knights had beaten St. Augustine handily in a preseason scrimmage, causing some overconfidence, Coach Mick Cady said.

“We weren’t sure how to take this game,” Knight forward Glen Carson said.

Their confidence certainly wasn’t lessened by the first half. Notre Dame (25-6), which is playing in its first state playoff, took a 42-27 lead at halftime.

But the Knights slowed in the second half.

St. Augustine (20-8) pulled within 60-57 with 4 minutes 21 seconds remaining in the final quarter.

Notre Dame’s problems were compounded by poor free-throw shooting. The Knights missed five of seven during one fourth-quarter stretch. Senior swingman Monte Marcaccini, normally reliable from the line, missed seven of 10 in the second half.

“I don’t know what it is,” Marcaccini said. “I’m normally a pretty good free-throw shooter. I think it’s mental.”

Notre Dame finally pulled itself together, making six of eight free throws while St. Augustine missed two three-point attempts in the final minute.

The heroes were Marcaccini (25 points), Carson (15) and Eddie Miller (13).

Carson’s points came on five three-point baskets in eight shots from beyond the arc.

Miller made several strong inside moves against St. Augustine, which had a sizable counterpart to the 6-foot-7 Notre Dame freshman: 6-9 sophomore Jelani McCoy, who led the Saints with 20 points.

Next for Notre Dame--on Thursday--is Morningside, the Southern Section III-AA champion. The Knights got a look at Morningside last Friday at Cal Poly Pomona, when the III-AA title game preceded the III-A game.

“I think we are going to have to play a great game,” Cady said, “and they are going to have to have an off night.”