St. Joseph Boys Basketball Storms Into Class LL Semifinals

Senior Jake Fulton scored 22 points as jumped out to a big early lead before coasting to an 89-73 victory over McMahon in the CIAC Class LL boys basketball quarterfinals Friday night in Trumbull.

The Cadets (22-1)  built a quick 16-6 advantage, thanks to 3-point jumpers from Fulton and James Jennings, and never looked back.

 “It was big for us,” said Fulton, who made three shots from beyond the arc. “James was looking for me and I got the open shots and it was nice to knock ‘em down and get out to an early lead.”

The Cadets advanced to Tuesday's semifinals against Glastonbury, which may have some unfinished business with the Cadets.

“We played Glastonbury last year in the first round here and we beat them 59-57,” legendary Cadets coach Vito Montelli said. “I’m sure they’re looking for some revenge. It’s a good club, well-coached, so we’ll see what happens.”

Glastonbury eliminated Westhill 55-48 on Friday.

Fulton led all scorers with 22 points and Jennings added 18 while making a pair of 3-pointers.

Timajh Parker scored 16 points in the paint and Brandon Jones added 15 points in the Cadets' 21st win of the season.

“They’re going to be coming for us,” Fulton said. “We just have to be ready and prepare in the next few days and come out hungry for the win.”

Forward Lamar Tate led the Senators with 19 points, converting down low and on the perimeter, while guard-forward Tyler Schuler finished with 16 points.

The Cadets started the game on a 13-2 run,  thanks to the early 3-pointers from Jennings and Fulton.

“Anytime those guys get an open look, they know they can shoot it,” Montelli said. “I expect them to take that shot and I expect them to make it. I’m glad they feel confident enough in a game like this. They’re not shying away.”

On McMahon’s end of the floor, the Senators struggled to make shots, even layups and high-percentage shots in the paint, putting them at a distinct disadvantage against sharp-shooting St. Joseph.

Tate and Schuler each scored for McMahon to ease the onslaught. The Senators and Cadets traded baskets down the stretch but the damage was done. St. Joseph led McMahon 25-15 after one.

“We were opposite,” McMahon Coach Mo Tomlin. “We started off kind of slow, missed some tip-ins, missed some free throws early. It was kind of tough [for us] to get our rhythm. We didn’t really get any offensive rhythm until the second half.”

The Cadets never relinquished their lead, attacking the rim and making perimeter jumpers to keep the game firmly in their grasp.

Still, the Senators never quit, playing pesky defense, intercepting passes and causing turnovers.

McMahon sent the Cadets to the line to slow down the game, but didn’t miss many free throws. St. Joseph shot 73.6 percent from the free throw line (28-of-38) from the line to keep  its lead intact.

McMahon got closer than seven points  in the entire contest.

“We never really did [recover from the first quarter], Tomlin said. "This is a tough place to play. They have a legendary coach, a great team. It’s tough."

St. Joseph senior forward Oscar Assie took a hard foul on his back in the second quarter and was helped off the court by the training staff. Assie returned to the bench in the second quarter, but never returned to the game.

Parker picked up the slack in Assie’s absence, getting three blocks in the fourth quarter which, led to fast breaks for the Cadets.

“He had to play smart and he definitely did,” Fulton said. “In the fourth quarter, he made blocks that led to transition layups for our team so it worked out well.”

“The trainer says he thinks he’ll be ready maybe by Monday," Montelli said of Assie. "I hope so because we play Tuesday. We need him. We can’t go against a real competitive team without him.”