The Christian Brothers Academy basketball team had no intention of blowing a double-digit halftime lead two home games in a row.
The Brothers (6-2 league, 7-3 overall) kept their feet pressed on the accelerator pedal through the first three quarters before cruising to a 67-52 victory over LaSalle in Friday’s Big 10 home game.
The victory was in stark contrast to what happened three nights earlier when Catholic Central overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to beat CBA 69-65 on the Brothers’ home floor.
`After a loss, it’s always important to come back strong,` said senior center Greig Stire, who finished with a game-high 19 points. `I think we did a good job tonight.`
Stire didn’t come close to matching his 41-point total from the Catholic Central game against LaSalle, but he didn’t need to. Stire had plenty of help from his teammates, as two of them reached double figures in the scoring column.
Still, Stire created a stir to start the game when he sank a pair of three-pointers to help the Brothers build a 20-11 lead. Stire had made a total of one three-pointer this season before Friday’s contest.
`He’s capable of doing it,` said CBA coach Dave Doemel. `That’s not the best part of his game, but if guys are going to back off on him, he’s going to take those shots.`
`When I’m open, I’m a decent shooter,` said Stire.
LaSalle (2-4, 2-6) did what it could to keep pace, but CBA’s defense made it difficult for the Cadets to hit shots. The Brothers forced several turnovers and made the Cadets hurry the shots they did get. By halftime, CBA’s lead grew to 41-21, and LaSalle never got back in the game.
`You can throw the records out, usually (when CBA and LaSalle play),` said Doemel. `(LaSalle coach) Steve (Sgambelluri) is a bit down right now. He’s missing a kid, and the rest of them are pretty young. But the one thing you can count on is that they’ll play hard till the end.`
Brian Renauld contributed 12 points, and Nick Marini added 10 points for CBA, which finishes the first half of the Big 10 season in third place behind Catholic Central (7-0, 8-0) and Troy (7-1, 8-1). Brandon Holmes’ 12 points paced LaSalle.
CBA begins the second half of its Big 10 season Tuesday with a trip to Schenectady (5-3, 6-4). The Brothers beat the Patriots 73-52 in their season opener Dec. 3, but Doemel said things have changed with Schenectady since then.
`Schenectady has been playing very well. They’re one of the teams that have improved a lot over the first half of the season,` said Doemel.
`They’re always a good team, and playing at Schenectady is always tough because they have a lot of energy in that (home) gym,` added Stire.
