Sports
Cavaliers Unable to Keep Pace with St. Frances High Powered Offense
Utilizing their star, Rutgers-bound Greg Lewis, the Panthers imposed their will over the Cavaliers, defeating them 60-42.
Archbishop Spalding faced an early season conference matchup against St. Frances, but was unable to keep pace with the Panthers' high-speed attack, losing 60-42 Tuesday night.
The Panthers started slow against Spalding's two three zone but eventually found their rhythm en route to a 18-point victory on Tuesday night.
Senior Eddie Tarver led the way for St. Frances with 22 points alongside his backcourt mate R.J. Williams, who contributed 17 points, scoring seven in the first quarter alone.
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After St. Frances jumped to a 5-0 run to start the game, a couple early timeouts by Spalding Coach Derrick Lewis helped slow down the Panthers. The Cavaliers responded to their coach's message and ended the first quarter down just 10-6.
After a sloppy end to the first quarter, the Panthers began establishing their main post threat in Rutgers-bound Greg Lewis, who contributed nine points in the second frame. Behind Lewis and the solid back court play of Williams and Tarver, the Panthers regained control and took a 25-14 lead into the half.
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Despite a tough first half offensively for the Cavaliers, Spalding took an 8-0 run to start the second half, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Senior Eric Fisher, putting them just three points behind the Panthers.
Fisher provided most of the offensive firepower for Spalding with 14 points.
After a timeout by Panther's Coach Mark Karcher, Senior Eddie Tarver imposed his will and regained that Panthers' momentum. Tarver had thirteen of his 22 points in the third quarter, including a last second three from the corner to extend the St. Frances lead to 11 heading into the fourth quarter.
Some helpful advice from his head coach altered the guard's plan of attack in the second half.
Coach told me, "Basically stop shooting three's, get my rhythm going and get my teammates involved," said Tarver.
Increased defensive pressure allowed the Panther's to extend their lead all the way to 20 and secure the road win against their conference rival.
Coach Karcher was pleased with the adjustments his squad made in the second half and the way they began driving to the basket.
"Penetrating the ball was key; we took too many jumpers in the first half. Then we started hitting the gaps, getting open shots," said Karcher.
