In a rematch of last year’s New Breed Basketball Association final, the defending champion Hoyas beat the Lakers, 63-57, Saturday night in 2010 summer league action at the Ronald Charles Gymnasium on the Central High Campus.
The champs used a 19-11 third quarter run to create some breathing room in a tight game before going on to defeat the Lakers, who were visibly stronger and deeper than their 2009 incarnation. The four-time defending champions Hoyas also looked liked they added some depth to their bench, especially in the backcourt, and this could mean another long season for all those teams trying to dethrone them. Both teams were also playing their first game of the 2010 season, which started one night earlier.
The Lakers came out on fire and before the Hoyas knew what had hit them they were down 17-10 at the end of the opening period.
However, led by 10 points from new point guard Kori Violette, the Hoyas responded with a 23 point second quarter while holding the Lakers to just 13 and they went into the locker room at the half leading 33-30.
Both teams battled hard in the early stages of the third quarter and with three minutes to go in the period they were separated by just one point, with the Hoyas holding the 42-41 advantage. The champs them went on a 10-0 run to close out the period with an 11 point advantage at 52-41. Darnel “Burger” Hendrickson led the Hoyas charge with nine points in the period.
The Lakers, however, did not lay down in the fourth and they played hard down the stretch, battling back to outscore the Hoyas 16-11 in the final quarter. But throughout that final period they just could not get any closer than six points and they went down to defeat by that very same margin, 63-57.
Hoyas coach, Sammy Lee, although pleased with the hard-fought victory, recognized that his team is not in game shape as yet.
“We showed a lot of rust out there tonight and some of our players got tired. We have won the last four years and we are not in game shape yet, but this will be our fifth championship in a row,” exclaimed Coach Lee.
Losing Coach Calvin Burke was just disappointed with his team’s second half effort.
“For some reason we just stopped moving the ball in the second half” said a dejected Burke who was also worried about his starting point guard Rashawn “Rooster” Williams. Williams was taken off the court on a stretcher after suffering an apparent back injury in the fourth quarter.
Eddie Castillo led four Hoyas in double figures with 17 points, Kurt John had 12, Hendrickson 11 and Violette netted 10. The Lakers were led offensively and defensively by their “Mr. Everything,” Robert Pack. Pack led three Lakers in double figures with game highs in points, 19 and rebounds, 13. He got some support from Williams and Shane Hodge who finished with 15 and 11 points respectively.
The action continues at the RCG Monday night at 7 p.m.
