STRONG FOURTH QUARTER POWERS INDIANS PAST BULLDOGS-57-44
Westmoreland’s Ted Flint (21) records one of his 12 blocked shots on Sauquoit’s Mark Mark martin (23) late in the contest.
Jeff Pexton-MHTS-PGI
The Sauquoit Valley Indians boy’s basketball team improved to (4-0) in Center State Conference III play with a solid 57-44 road win at Westmoreland on Friday night.
The Indians outscored the Bulldogs 23-13 in the final quarter to remain unbeaten in league play.
Coach Doug Jones and his Indians headed into the “ Dog Pound” winners of three straight and on a roll. On Wednesday night Sauquoit beat Hamilton at home, (56-35).
The Bulldogs and coach Jeff Busch entered action with some confidence on their side of the court having picked up a Wednesday night road win, (70-66) over Morrisville-Eaton.
Bulldogs senior guard John Becker (22) looks to get a pass around Sauquoit defender Robert Slivinski (10)
After a very slow start where the two teams combined for just 11 points in the first quarter (8-3 in favor of Sauquoit) both teams heated up a bit in the second quarter and the the Indians built a 19-14 advantage at the half.
The home team was led by 6′ 7″senior center Teddy Flint, who was a dominant force tonight picking up the rare “triple double”, notching 13 points, 10 rebounds and an amazing 12 blocked shots.
Flint is having a solid season averaging just over 14 points per game to lead the Dogs.
Sauquoit Valley received double digit scoring performances from Collin Jackson, who led all scorers with 14 points. Aaron LoPiccolo with 12 points and Kyle Jones with 11.
Mark Martin was not too far behind scoring 9 for the winners.
The Indians built a lead of as many as 15 points in the second half, but Westmoreland, who also got a strong inside game from sophomore Tyler Taverne, who scored 9 points, cut the Indians lead down to just 7 points with just under three minutes to play in the game.
Speaking of Tyler’s, Tyler Witter also scored 9 for Westmoreland. John Gerace added 5.
Sauquoit Valley guard Aaron LoPiccolo (15) spots up for a three.
After a Bulldogs turnover, with 2:24 remaining, Aaron LoPiccolo spotted up from just outside the bent line and nailed a three to put Sauquoit back up by 10.
Less than a minute later, Flint picked up his 5th foul of the game, which essentially iced this one for the visitors.
The Indians were tough down low despite Flint’s shot blocking bonanza and got some some strong guard play from LoPiccolo, who scored 9 of his 12 points from three point land.
The loss drops Westmoreland to (2-2) in the CSC-3 and (2-5) overall. The Dogs had a very difficult row to hoe early on this season, facing defending State Champions New York Mills, as well state ranked Oriskany and undefeated Cooperstown to start things off this winter.
Westmoreland was playing tonight without junior Marvin Sherman, who is a mid-season transfer to Rome Catholic.
Sauquoit Valley improves to (4-0) and has sole possession of first place in the CSC-3, (5-2) overall.
The Indians have a one game conference lead over Cooperstown, who is also undefeated. The Indians and the Redskins will do battle on Monday in Cooperstown.
Westmoreland returns to action on Monday on their home hardwood as they entertain Rome Catholic and one of Section III’s leading scorers, Josh Blair, who was averaging nearly 20 points per game through his first 9 games of the season.
Indians guard Mark Martin (23) rifles a pass into the paint.
It remains to be seen whether recent transfer Marvin Sherman will be in uniform for the Red Wings when they visit Sherman’s former team so close to his departure.
By the way Westmoreland and Sauquoit Valley will do it all again on January 31st in Sauquoit.
Sauquoit Valley 57 Westmoreland 44
Box Score
1 2 3 4 Total
Sauquoit Valley 8 11 15 23 57
Westmoreland 3 11 17 13 44
