Campbell is JFK's first loss

The Red Devils (13-1) took advantage of the Eagles (11-1) missing their first 13 free throws.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CAMPBELL -- Warren JFK made the game close in the end, but the Eagles could have done it sooner.
That's because a nightmarish 0-of-13 start at the foul line put the previously undefeated team in a hole as once-beaten Campbell stayed strong to survive the battle at Campbell's gym Tuesday night, 57-53.
"It was a great high school game that could have gone either way," Campbell coach Brian Danilov said. "We're fortunate to come out with it. Anything could have happened."
It didn't look that way when Campbell (13-1) took a 12-point lead early in the third quarter.
The Red Devils kept JFK (11-1) at a distance until the Eagles snapped their 0-of-13 streak when Stephan Flanagan made two free throws with 2:42 remaining in the third.
The Eagles chipped away and pulled within 49-47 following consecutive baskets by TaShawn Walker.
Then Campbell's Trey Soares, who had a game-high 17 points, made two free throws and Tommy Hall added a basket for a 53-47 lead with 1:16 to go.
Final fling
J.J. Townsend pulled JFK within 53-49, but Jermaine Richardson made the second of two free throws at 42.2 to make the ending more comfortable for Campbell.
"We got in some foul trouble and they made some plays," Danilov said of JFK's push in the end. "They're a championship-caliber team. They're similar to us in that everybody can score and everybody can put it on the floor a little bit. They're just a hard matchup."
Richardson, Hall and Terrance Phillips had 11 points apiece for the Red Devils, whose only loss was to Howland by six points.
Soares' two free throws that extended Campbell's lead from 49-47 to 51-47 were his last points of the game.
"Trey stepped up big time down the stretch," said Danilov, whose team made 14 of 23 free throws.
Flanagan led JFK with 16 points, while Walker added 14. Townsend and Desmar Jackson had 10 apiece.
JFK coach Shawn Pompelia indirectly addressed the Eagles' 5-of-21 debacle at the line, but had a bigger concern.
"We scored 14 points in the first half and 40 in the second. We told them at halftime that we've got to get to the glass [offensively, with the ball]. When we got to crunch time, they left us open to shoot it from the outside. But we stopped doing what made us successful in the second half and that's by getting to the glass. If we're going to be a championship team, we've got to be able to hit that and we couldn't knock it down."
Shortcomings
Pompelia was referring to his team's inability to get points down low and a missed 3-point goal when the Eagles drew within two points.
Danilov knew the dangers his Red Devils would face.
"When playing a team like JFK, you've got to play defense, of course, try to box out because they rebound so well, and they've got great shooters with [Marc] Rossi and J.J. and great drivers with that freshman kid [Jackson] and [Flanagan]. There's a lot of things you've got to do to beat them."
Rossi, however, a 3-point specialist, was held to one point.
Being accustomed to close games and stiff competition, the Red Devils should benefit when tournament time rolls around.
It may be a second chance for the Eagles, too.
"I think that [Division III Salem] sectional-district has got to be one of the best in the state with Ursuline, Mooney, JFK, hopefully us, Springfield, Struthers, Girard and others. It'll be a killer," said Danilov.
Campbell out-rebounded JFK, 39-26, with Soares getting nine, Hall seven and Phillips six caroms.
Hall, a 6-8 junior, also had six blocked shots. Richardson had four assists.
Walker was JFK's top rebounder with six, while Jackson had five steals and five assists.
bassetti@vindy.com