In a battle of early-season, unbeaten teams in the West Bay Athletic League, the Menlo School boys’ basketball made a fourth-quarter charge but fell to Pinewood 73-66 on Friday at home.
Menlo moves to 10-4 overall and holds a 3-1 record in West Bay Athletic league play. The Panthers improve to 12-1 overall and 3-0 league.
Menlo senior forward Freddy Avis led the Knights with 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range with 13 of those points coming in the second half as Menlo made its run.
Pinewood opened a 13-point lead in the fourth when Solomone Wolfgramm scored on a jumper. Then, Menlo embarked on a run in which Freddy Avis scored five points and Ryan Young scored six to cut the lead to three with about two minutes left. Pinewood converted one of the free throws on a technical, then on the ensuing play, Wolfgramm added a basket. Roth scored on a layup as time expired.
“I am very proud of the way we competed and didn't give up when getting down in the first and third quarter,” Menlo coach Delandro Leday said. “We still have things to get better at and some things that we are doing well right now but all and all, I like our growth and most of all our grit."
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Pinewood jumped out to a 6-0 lead before sophomore guard Bobby Roth hit a three-pointer to start a back-and-forth first quarter which ended with Pinewood leading 21-16. Menlo closed within two by halftime 33-31.
Sweat hit four three-pointers on his way to 16 points in the quarter which saw Pinewood open up a 16-point lead before senior Richard Harris scored to stop the run. Roth and Harris finished with 15 points each for Menlo.
The Panthers’ Kevin Sweat scored 16 of his 19 points in the third quarter, and finished with five three-pointers and 19 points. Wolfgramm had 22 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
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WBAL stats:
Team 1 2 3 4 Tot. Pinewood 21 12 29 11 73 Menlo 16 15 20 18 69
Scoring – Pinewood (FTA not available) : -- Wolfgramm 8 6 22, Fraioli 3 5 13, Helvey 5 3 13, Sweat 7 019, Naumann 2 1 6.
Three-point goals: Sweat 5, Fraioli 2, B. Naumann.
Total: 25-15-73.
Menlo: Roth 5 2-3 15, Huber 11-2 3, Avis 5 2-2 16, Wes Miller 5 0-0 10, Young 4 2-2 10, Harris 6 3-3 15.
Three-point goals: Avis 4, Roth 3.
Total: 26-10-12 69.