NCN SPORTS BLOG

Forgive me for cheesy titles, it’s late.

Joe Lombardi scored 24 points — including 9 in the fourth quarter — to lead the Bears to a 56-50 win over the Pleasantville Panthers.

Notes on the game:

* My ears might still be ringing from this one. It was a great atmosphere in Pleasantville this evening, but somebody better tell the Panthers faithful football season is already an afterthought. The constant taunts of “28-0!” were amusing, but kind of far fetched in January. Whatever makes you feel good, I guess.

* Pleasantville was running on the fuel of its home crowd and played a real solid game. However, the emotion might have made the Panthers play a tad bit over their heads. Don’t get me wrong, because this team is as fundamental and competitive as they come, but Briarcliff just looked a little off. They missed a bunch of easy shots around the basket and were out of synch against the anti-Phoenix Suns style that the Panthers play. As Joe Lombardi said, if ‘Cliff makes a couple more shots from in close, the game is a 15-point win instead. Needless to say, hats off to the youthful Panthers, they are going to be on the winning side of that rivalry in the near future.

* Joe Lombardi carried the team this evening. If there ever was an MVP, Lombardi was it. Down the stretch — when he poured in nine tough points — is when he looked the strongest. His power inside and ability to follow up his second-chance opportunities was too much for the worn down Panthers. Still can’t believe he isn’t going to college straight for round ball. I gotta see this kid play baseball.

* Briarcliff is in the think of its league schedule, which is actually tougher than most would imagine. Byram, Lincoln Hall, Pleasantville and Croton won’t lay down and have the ability to upset the Bears. I don’t foresee it actually happening, but the point is that the league is solid competition.

* Gulotta had a quiet 14 points, but his presence on the court is an intangible force. He had “no doubt” that the Bears were going to pull out the seemingly close game. When Pleasantville’s Matt Nicolai nailed a 3-pointer to kick off the fourth quarter and tie it at 37-37, I thought there might be a chance at a wild upset. Nah, Gulotta was pretty much right.

* Improvements on defense and coming together as a team equals a good chance to win every game from here on out, according to Lombardi.

* Favorite chants from the hooligans in the bleachers? Post them.