Boys basketball
By: Jim Green
If the Lawrence High School boys basketball team is going to clinch a return to the state tournament, it is going to have to wait at least one more day.
The Cardinals could have clinched a tournament berth Tuesday with a win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South, but the Cardinals, who had won five of their previous seven games, dropped a 53-39 decision to the Pirates.
The Cardinals now stand 7-7 overall with two games remaining before Saturday’s cutoff. They visit Nottingham at 7 p.m. Friday and play host to Morrisville at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Lawrence must win one of those two games to have the required .500 record at the cutoff.
"We need to pick up a win either Friday or Saturday," Lawrence assistant coach Richard Babuschak said. "We’re just going to have to come out and have a couple of good practices and get ready for Nottingham."
Lawrence might have been hampered by a 10-day layoff prior to the WW-P South game. The Cardinals, who had a game against Trenton postponed last week due to inclement weather, had not played since defeating Notre Dame (Pa.) on Jan. 24.
"We weren’t ready after that many days off," Bubuschak said. "It’s not an excuse. We just weren’t as sharp."
Junior point guard Matt Stein paced the Cardinals with 12 points, while sophomore center Brett Brackett added 10. Senior shooting guard John Calvo netted nine points, including two 3-pointers.
The Cardinals trailed by only one point after the first quarter and at halftime, but the Pirates took control of the game with a 21-10 third-quarter advantage.
"It was a close first half," Babuschak said. "West Windsor came out and had a big third quarter. From that point on, we just traded baskets with them."
Babuschak felt the Cardinals did not set the tone early.
"We just needed to come out and be a little tougher," he said.
The Cardinals should come out with a stronger effort Friday, as they look to clinch a spot in the state tournament. Last season, Lawrence failed to qualify for states.
"We need to play a little bit better and a little smarter," Babuschak said.
NOTES: After the Morrisville game, the Cardinals play host to cross-town rival Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lawrence’s game at Trenton has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Cardinals finish the regular season with a tilt at Hightstown at 7 p.m. Feb. 13.