Saturday, February 10, 2001

By Steve Blackledge
Dispatch Sports Reporter

The DeSales boys basketball team seemed a half step slower than usual in a Central Catholic League game at Hartley last night. The Stallions also shot poorly from the field, committed 18 turnovers and lacked the inner fire that had fueled a 17-1 season.

But all things considered, DeSales exhibited another facet of its personality in a 66-50 demolition of Hartley in Dick Geyer Gymnasium, securing at least a share of the CCL title.

"I think most people look at us for what we can get done on the offensive end of the floor," Stallions coach Dan Garrick said. "Tonight, we made up for our shortcomings with a very good effort on the defensive end.

"I've been telling these guys all along that there's going to be a point this season where we don't shoot well and we're going to have do dig down deep and get it done other ways. I think they took that to heart tonight."

After hitting four of its first six three-point shots in the first six minutes, DeSales (18-1, 11-0) -- averaging 73.7 points per game -- fell into a lengthy funk.

By extending their half-court pressure, however, the Stallions kept Hartley (10-7, 4-5) on its heels all night and never relinquished the lead.

"That was probably our best defensive performance of the year," DeSales senior guard Tony Borghese said.

In hitting just 19 of 57 shots (33.3 percent) from the field, Hartley looked out of sync. Many of its attempts were hurried, off-balance or over the arms of defenders.

"Knowing that they are very young at the point, we tried to change things up and keep them off- stride a little bit," Garrick said. "We concentrated very hard at keeping them at bay underneath, too."

Hartley's top scorer, 6-foot-6 junior center Mike Bean, was held scoreless. Sophomore Darren Pore paced the Hawks with 14 points.

"I think we realized that because we weren't shooting real well, we had to pick it up on 'D' and take control that way," 6-5 DeSales senior forward Nathan Frost said.

Although the Stallions shot 37 percent from the field and missed 16 of their last 20 three-point attempts, they slammed through the lane often enough to reach the free throw line 31 times.

"Sometimes we come out and get fixated with the arc," Garrick said. "Fortunately, the guys realized that wasn't working and they got more aggressive attacking the basket. I give a lot of credit for that to Tony. He has an uncanny knack of picking up a feel for the game and getting his teammates to adapt."

Borghese scored 22 points and Frost 20 to pace the Stallions, ranked eighth in the Division II state poll and seeded first entering district tournament play. Mike Love added 13 points, including back-to-back three-pointers at the start of the fourth quarter.

DeSales, which plays at once-beaten Ready on Friday, is gunning for the school's first outright league championship.

"My first year here (1995-96) when we shared the championship; it was the first time a boys or girls team at DeSales had ever done that," Garrick said. "To win it outright, that would be some way to celebrate the school's 40th anniversary. The guys realize that we've got a chance to do something very, very special."