11 different Lancers score in home victory over Analy (Basketball Boys Home Page)
By: BYJOHN REID Daily News Staff Writer
Posted December 30
Saint Francis-Mountain View boys basketball coach Michael Motil had to miss the Lancers’ first-round game of the Saint Francis Holiday Tournament on Wednesday. Motil, who was attending to a family matter, would have been pleased to witness how the Lancers took care of Analy Sebastopol 68-53. Saint Francis (6-2) faces El Camino- South San Francisco (9-1) in tonight’s semifinals at Raskob Memorial Gymnasium at 7:45.
Filling in for Motil was Raymond Townsend, who was certainly pleased with what he saw from the bench. Eleven players scored for Saint Francis, led by 16 points from guard Jarod Diaz, who is emerging as an offensive force for the Lancers.
“ The kids played well,” Townsend said. “ It was a good effort. Analy shot it well in the second half. Our zone wasn’t as good, but our man came back and we opened up the floor.”
The game was still in doubt late in the third period when the Tigers’ Gabe Greenberg-Pines hit a jumper to close the Lancers’ lead to 42- 36. Analy (4- 8) was in the midst of a 14- 8 run when Mohannad Halaweh swished a long 3- point shot as the shot clock wound down. The referees conferred before denying Halaweh’s trey, which would have cut the lead to 42- 39 with less than two minutes left in the period had it been allowed. The Lancers may have caught a break. It was that close.
The call turned out to be huge when Diaz hit a 3- pointer from the corner to end the period, the Lancers up 47- 38. Physical forward Abu Tratter connected on a hook shot in the lane, the Lancers ahead 51- 40. Dickey dealt a no- look pass to Diaz for 53- 40. Diaz scored on a breakaway off a Tigers turnover for a 15- point bulge.
Khalil Johnson drove the lane for a deuce. The lengthy Lancers bench got into the act with Ben Wadors dishing to Durell Crooks, who scored on a scoop layin. Junior guard Nick Keyes got into the act, draining a trey from the right corner for Saint Francis.
Saint Francis took charge with a 20- point first period, getting six points from 6- foot- 9 center Drew Dickey, who finished with 13 points and six rebounds. The Lancers got good minutes from the feisty Jimmy Frazier, who had five points, five boards, some hard-nosed defense and some sweet assists. Khalid Johnson had seven points and a key strip of the ball as the Lancers made their fourth- period move.
“ Khalid Johnson led us,” Townsend said. “ Drew Dickey and Abu Tratter got on the boards. The best part is we got a win in the tournament and every kid played.”
That’s a philosophy Motil would agree with.
