SOUTHERN SECTION : Defense Carries Verbum Dei to 87-60 Victory

Verbum Dei 87, St. Bonaventure 60--Defending Southern Section Division IV champion Verbum Dei ran away from the St. Bonaventure Seraphs by employing a pressure defense that confused and baffled their opponent in a first round playoff game at Pius X.

When the Eagles weren’t stealing the ball or causing turnovers, they were getting second and third shots, beating the Seraphs in rebounds 35-18.

Senior forward Larry Andre led all scorers with 22 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and four steals, including one leading to a dunk that put the Eagles up 20-10 with 1:41 left in the first quarter. Verbum Dei led by as many as 34 points, 78-44, with 5:12 remaining when Coach Mike Kearney cleared his bench.

Andre got help from sophomore forward Phil Blackmon who scored 14 points, with junior guard Deon Williams adding 10 points. Senior forward Sean Van Gundy led the Seraphs with 20 points.