Warren JFK rallies to defeat Mooney 82-78 in double overtime
TaShawn Walker helped the Eagles to their sixth straight victory.
By BOB ROTH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Shawn Pompelia, in his second season of coaching his alma mater, Warren JFK, knows how to spark a team with a halftime pep talk, as the Eagles fought back from a 13-point deficit at the intermission to defeat Mooney, 82-78, in two overtimes, Thursday night.
The Eagles (6-0) remained undefeated thanks to second half scoring efforts from TaShawn Walker, who scored 23 of his team-high 26 points, and Stephen Flanagan, who had 13 of his 17 points after the intermission.
After regulation the teams were deadlocked at 61 and after the first overtime they were even at 69, but in the second overtime JFK had a 13-9 scoring edge on the Cardinals (3-2).
Rossi sparks Eagles
Marc Rossi, one of four seniors in JFK's starting lineup, came up big in the second overtime with a steal and a field goal, a rebound and two free throws with 47 seconds remaining that gave the Eagles an 81-76 lead. He finished the game with 23 points.
"I have been waiting for this breakout game and coming back tonight like we did showed the character of our team," said Rossi.
Mooney had 9-0 and 7-0 first quarter scoring streaks, outscoring JFK 16-3 to take a 23-12 lead and the Cardinals didn't trail in the contest until the second overtime.
Eagles battle back
Behind 40-26 early in the third quarter JFK fought back, getting to within two points of the Cardinals on five occasions before the first of five ties with 38 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on a drive to the basket by Walker. J.J. Townsend sent the game to overtime with a steal and a coast to coast basket at the buzzer.
Flanagan came up with the heroics in the first overtime with a drive, again at the buzzer.
"We were flat in the first half, but we came out with heart and hustle in the second half," said Flanagan.
Added Walker: "We survived tonight because we just kept hustling."
"We didn't come out ready to play tonight, but we got on our guys at the half and the whole team just gutted this game out for the win," said Pompelia.
Desmond Marrow, with 15 first-half points and a team-high 26, had three steals and six of Mooney's 33 rebounds.
L.J. Sutton gave the Cardinals scoring support in the second half when he had 13 of his 17 points, and he also had six rebounds.
Lots of turnovers
Several key situations became the difference in the contest that had JFK turn the ball over 20 times, but only once in each overtime. Mooney had 19 turnovers, with nine of them coming in the two overtimes.
The rebounding edge went to JFK with 36 as Walker had a double-double with 12 boards.
"The effort was really there tonight for both sides and give JFK credit; they made big plays when they needed them," said Mooney coach Steve Leslie.
"We had several key breakdowns and what this shows us is that we must be able to finish games."
Although both of these schools are members of the Steel Valley Conference this was not a conference game.