Ossining Stages Stirring Comeback Against Hen Hud
January 15th, 2010 by Isaac Cass
Ossining guards Keon Ervin (left) and Cameron Davidov (right) fire 3-pointers Thursday against Hen Hud.
Trailing 38-23 at halftime to visiting Hen Hud, Ossining Head Coach Khalid Sales pleaded with his team.
“Do you want this?” the coach said.
And the answer was a resounding “yes.”
Ossining outscored the Sailors 49-32 in the second half, employing a suffocating press to pull out a thrilling 72-70 comeback victory.
“We motivated ourselves to get up in their faces because we were down,” said Ossining junior guard Cameron Davidov, who scored a game-high 19 points. “We have athletic guys and know we can do that. Once we started coming back right at the beginning of the third quarter, we tried to stay with it and keep the momentum and get turnover after turnover.”
Ollie Lee Holmes and Lemar Johnson powered the Ossining press, using their speed and athleticism to stymie Hen Hud’s guards. Holmes shut down T.J. Olesczuk (team-high 18 points) in the second half, limiting him to six points. Frustrated by Holmes’ gnat-like pressure, Olesczuk fouled out with two minutes left in regulation.
“We got the kitchen sink thrown at us,” Hen Hud Head Coach Steve Purcigliotti said, referring to Ossining’s intense pressure.
As the Hen Hud turnovers mounted, Ossining found its shooting touch. Davidov knocked down all five of his 3-pointers in the second half. Overall, Ossining hit six of its season-high 11 3-pointers in the third quarter, outscoring the Sailors 28-14. Keon Ervin (four 3-pointers), Randy Stephens (one 3-pointer) and Jeffery Belitz (one 3-pointer) all got in on the act.
“The outside shooting was really clicking,” Sales said. “Cameron is a good shooter, but so is Keon. When they both get hot like that, it’s trouble.”
Ossining’s Quincy Ingram controlled the paint with his length, scoring 14 points and blocking three shots.
For Hen Hud, Kyle Altman (16 points) and Bennett Zink (17 points) both played well. Altman filled in admirably for the injured Mike Tandy. Tandy — an imposing 6-4 power forward — strained a ligament in his knee during Tuesday’s 68-57 loss to Peekskill.
Ossining’s next game is at Peekskill Jan. 20, while Hen Hud hosts Putnam Valley Jan. 19.
Posted in Boys' basketball |