A year ago, Long Beach seemingly found a new way to lose a close game each time it took the floor. It appears the worm has turned for the Marines. After a 56-52 home victory over Calhoun on Tuesday, the Marines are 2-1 in Conference AA-III play.
Senior Josh Trone scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Long Beach. Calhoun was led by senior Andrew Leif's 17 points.
Long Beach head coach T.J. Burke was pleased with the team's newfound ability to win the close ones, after the Marines lost six games by three points or less in 2009-10.
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"We don't win this game a year ago," Burke said. "Last season, we would have given it away. Even though we had a nice lead and let them get back in it down the stretch, we found a way to get the win. We'll take it."
The first quarter was a sloppy one with each team piling up turnovers. Trone scored eight points in the opening quarter as the Marines took a 15-9 lead.
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The Colts came out flying in the second quarter.
Consecutive steals by Lief and junior guard Dan Trepel resulted in lay ups, and set the tone for a quarter that was played at a breakneck pace. After back-to-back baskets by Thomas Joannou and Chad Fuschillo (14 points) evened the score at 17 apiece, Calhoun's John Wigand was whistled for his third foul.
Calhoun head coach Jay Kreutzberger felt for his 6-foot-4 center. "John is working his tail off to try to stay out of foul trouble," Kreutzberger said. "His presence on the floor certainly makes us a better team. I'm not putting this on him. He did not deserve to be on the bench in foul trouble. I need to have him on the floor in the second half. I thought he played smart all game long."
The Marines held a 23-22 lead as the teams took the floor for the second half. Long Beach got a big lift from senior Cedric Coad in the third quarter. Coad, who was playing for the first time in three weeks after a bout with mononucleosis, scored five of his 10 points in the quarter.
The score was tied at 37 as the teams readied for the final eight minutes. Things got a little chippy as the officials let a little more contact go than they had in the first three quarters. Both teams picked up technical fouls I the final quarter. When Wigand was forced to the bench with his fourth foul just a minute into the final quarter, things looked bleak for the Colts.
A beautiful backdoor cut by Trone resulted in a lay up and gave the Marines a commanding 51-42 lead with 1:51 left on the clock. Calhoun made a late run, but could never make it a one-possession game. The Colts fell to 2-1 in Conference AA-III.
Burke was pleased with the team's effort, especially on the defensive end of the court.
"We just want to turn guys around and never let them get comfortable in their half court offense," Burke said. "We did a nice job. From time to time we're going to give up lay ups, but when we force a lot of turnovers, we can deal with that."
The Marines will travel to Bellmore JFK on Jan. 7 to take on the first place Cougars. Tip off is 7 p.m.
