JFK wins Girard tourney

The host Indians won over Howland in the consolation game.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
GIRARD -- Colin Clemente had a game-high 25 points as the Warren John F. Kennedy High boys basketball team limited Ursuline to just four free throws Monday for a 57-45 win in the championship game of the Girard Holiday Tournament.
Chris Shaker posted a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) for JFK.
The consolation game was won by the host Indians as they outdistanced Howland, 47-44.
"I just had some really good looks at the bucket tonight," Clemente said. "In the first quarter, I faded on a few of my attempts, but in the finale quarter, I felt hot and they just kept getting me the ball. I really feel confident in my shot right now. Offensively we seem to be coming together as a team."
It was Clemente's four 3-pointers at the start of the fourth quarter that gave the Eagles the boost they were looking for.
With the Eagles trailing 34-33 heading into the final eight minutes, Clemente's four straight buckets from beyond the arc turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point lead.
"Colin can flat out shoot the ball," JFK coach John Condoleon said. "We never stopped playing tonight, riding the hot hand of Clemente for the first two minutes of the final quarter.
"We got a little tired in the second half and Ursuline's zone defense slowed us a little," Condoleon said. "Colin is a four-year letterwinner and one of the best shooters in the area. We're going to ride his hot hand when he is feeling it."
Ursuline led once
Ursuline's Brett Neely got the first bucket of the game, but it was the only time the Fighting Irish would lead in the contest.
The Eagles' Shaker scored eight of his 12 points in the opening stanza as JFK raced to a 15-9 lead.
Ursuline (3-4) outscored JFK 12-10 in the second period, but had to settle for a 25-21 deficit at intermission.
"We really pounded the ball inside tonight so it bugs me that we went to the line just four times," Ursuline coach Keith Gunther said. "Overall, though, I thought we could have played smarter in the second half."
The Fighting Irish used an 11-3 run at the outset of the second half to take a 32-28 lead. They settled for a 34-33 lead after three periods when the Eagles' Anthony Olive scored his team's final five points of the period.
It was all Clemente in the final frame as he scored 16 of his game-high 25 points in the frame to seal the victory for the Eagles (5-3).
JFK held a 33-31 rebound advantage, while Shaker dished out a game-high eight assists.
Girard-Howland
Ryan Collins and Nick Cretella had 13 points and Girard used an 18-4 run at the outset of the second half to forge a 43-32 lead in defeating Howland in the consolation game.
"Credit our defense with tonight's victory," Girard coach Bryan O'Hara said. "This is a nice win for our program, but we still need to learn how to put an opponent away.
"Our half court defense came alive in the second half and credit coach Mike DelBene for that," O'Hara said. "He's our defensive coordinator and someone who really takes pride in preparing our defense."
The Indians (2-3) trailed Howland 28-25 at intermission, but held the Tigers (2-5) to just two points in the third quarter to take a 33-30 lead.
An Ian Scott jumper with 26 seconds remaining tied the game at 44. Collins then hit the last three points from the foul line for the Indians to seal the victory.