BOYS BASKETBALL
By: Mike Molaro
The true character of a team shines through when things aren’t going its way and any championship hopes have long been extinguished.
After weathering a nine-game losing streak, the Lawrence High School boy’s basketball squad (3-11) has won three of its last five games and has taken the proverbial first steps towards seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
"Our best game of the year," is how Cardinal head coach Pat Tarrant described last Friday’s 39-37 triumph at Nottingham.
Seniors Pat Beighley and Rob Wilburn each hit for 11 points and Lawrence overcame a 28-12 halftime deficit with a superb 27-9 second-half blitz that shocked the Northstars and brought home its second victory of the season.
A 13-2 fourth-quarter surge keyed the win as the Cardinals refused to let another close one slip away.
"We’ve had a lot of close games this year, many of which we led late into the game," Tarrant said after downing the ‘Stars. "The guys weren’t going to let it happen again. We really tightened our defense in the second half. We knew it was probably going to be a low scoring game so the defense would decide it. It’s nice for the guys to win a close one. I also like the way we didn’t pack it in after halftime. The guys stepped up and made it happen. I’m hopeful this will be a springboard to a good second half."
Senior Bayshawn Wells had 11 points in last Saturday’s 56-28 setback at Hunterdon Central. The home team opened a 14-2 first-quarter lead and never looked back.
"We never came back to the ground after the Nottingham win," added Tarrant. "We got beat up. This was more of a mental loss than a physical loss. We were never in this game. I don’t think the score is indicative of the two programs."
Sophomore Corey Thomas scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds Tuesday in leading the Cardinals past visiting Allentown, 62-27. Beighley added 12 points and senior Mike Schaeffer contributed eight.
Lawrence held the Redbirds to single digits in each quarter and held a 24-16 halftime lead.
"We put it all together in this game," Tarrant said. "This was our best all-around effort and the guys did it at both ends of the court. We are starting to feed off that Nottingham win and our confidence level is growing. We won’t make the state tournament and there won’t be any league titles, so we are playing the second half for ourselves and to show people what kind of team we are."
The Cardinals are focused on the internal rewards of pride and character. Their confidence is soaring and things just be starting to turn their way.
Funny what a couple of wins can do.