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Wildcats’ Phifer too much for Devils
Photo
Ray Phifer (4) of Struthers puts up an off-balance layup while being defended by Campbell’s Aaron Jackson (11) in the first half of their game Tuesday in the All-American Conference Blue at Memorial High School in Campbell. The Wildcats downed the Red Devils, 44-33, behind Phifer, who posted 18 points.
Phifer too much for Devils
By Tom Williams
CAMPBELL
Combining for just 27 points in the first half, the shooting by the Struthers and Campbell Memorial basketball players was so frosty that if it had any affect on the weather, we would not be dreaming of a White Christmas today.
But in the second half of Tuesday’s contest, Wildcats forward Ray Phifer was hotter than Rudolph’s beak, connecting for 18 points to lead Struthers to a 44-33 victory.
“He’s a special individual, not just in basketball,” Struthers head coach Jimmy Francheschelli said. “He’s a great kid overall. We told him at halftime, ‘We need you to take over the game.’
“He’s probably the most unselfish player I’ve ever coached.”
Phifer, who is averaging 26 points, scored six in the first half as the Wildcats led 15-12.
“The zones were killing us all, Phifer said. “And nerves. Shots weren’t falling for both teams. It was kind of messy basketball.”
Teammate Austin Yemma said nerves were understandable.
“It’s a rivalry game — football, basketball, any sport,” Yemma said of Campbell-Struthers showdowns. “There are butterflies — you don’t know what to expect in a rivalry game.”
The third quarter began with Phifer scoring on a layup. Then with the score 21-17, Phifer’s made the next three baskets including a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats (5-2, 4-1 All-American Conference Blue) an 11-point lead.
“Once he starts to catch fire, the whole team [does],” Yemma said.
Phifer scored nine more points in the fourth quarter to finish with 24.
The difference?
“I got all the butterflies out,” Phifer said. “I got used to the environment in here, all the echoes.
“Then it was just basketball — it was fun to play. Shots were falling.”
Campbell head coach Mike Szenborn agreed nerves were a factor.
“Peak emotions got the best of both teams,” Szenborn said. “Ray kind of took over. We had some defensive breakdowns and let him get to the basket. We knew we had to contain him.”
Franceschelli said he could offer a “ton of excuses” as to why his team struggled early.
“But when the going got tough, we were resilient,” Franceschelli said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. Every time we come here it’s a battle.”
At halftime, he chose to emphasize the positive.
“That’s what we told them — being up three may not have been exactly where we wanted to be, but we’re in a position to win,” Franceschelli said.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Red Devils’ Mike Williams scored to cut the Struthers’ lead to 28-24. Phifer then ignited a 7-0 run (two baskets, one free throw) to put the game out of reach.
Andrew Carbon scored 11 for Struthers while Troy Noble excelled on defense with 10 rebounds, a block and four steals.
“No one [thought] we’d have this record, but I think this is where we should be,” Phifer said. “Poland’s next.”
Franceschelli said bigger tests await.
“Bottom line, we still have to get better to win bigger basketball games,” Franceschelli said
For the Red Devils (2-3, 2-3), Edgar Toledo and George Billiris each scored six points,
“We were expecting to be a lot better, returning a lot of seniors,” Szenborn said. “We had a couple of tough losses early in the year, this is another one.
“We need to learn to execute better,” the third-year head coach said. “We’re not executing at either end of the floor and it’s costing us some ball games.”