Marisa GallelliCavs dropped from playoffs
The tension was in the air when the Cabrini Cavaliers and the Eastern University Eagles went to war. Cabrini started the game scoring the first two points of the game. Shortly after that, Eastern went on an 8-0 run. The Cavaliers came back and began to score by getting to the line. At the end of the first half, the Cabrini Cavaliers had the lead 32-31. The entire second half was a back and forth struggle for the lead.
Later on in the second half, the Cavaliers were trailing by five. With 31.8 seconds left, Dan Clemens hit a three point shot that cut Easterns lead to 71-73. The Cavaliers managed to get the ball back after getting a defensive stop. However, the last chance tying lay-up did not fall and the Cavs were forced to foul. The final score was 71-75. Senior Laval Pinckney scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting, eight rebounds, one block, and four steals.
“It didn’t hit me yet,” sophomore Anthony Bennett said shortly after the game. “I think it will hit tomorrow when we don’t have practice.” Bennett was perfect from the free throw line shooting 4-4 and added six points and seven rebounds.
“We just have to start over with hard work and dedication. I just want to tell my teammates to keep their heads up and get ready, because we have something to prove next year,” Bennett said.
Not all of the players will be back next year. “I am disappointed in the lost. We played hard,” senior guard Kris Pittman said. Pittman scored a game high 18 points on 6-14 shooting. “I’m going to miss the team; everybody. It is a family affair. I feel as though we are a family and I have to leave it. I wanted the team to feel the joy I felt when we make it to the Sweet Sixteen.”
“It’s a game you have to pull away when given the opportunity,” senior guard Nick Foschi said. “Little mistakes added up.” Foschi is in his last year of eligibility with the team. “Basketball keeps you from going out of control and it keeps you around a lot of good people. I hope I can carry this experience with me.”
Women downed by Wesley
The Lady Cavs season came to an end after a close game against Wesley in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference quarterfinals. The game ended in defeat for the Cavs with a score of 73- 68.
Wesley was the underdog of the game with a constant two point difference. At the hal,f Cabrini was up at the half 39-30.
In earlier games Cabrini struggled with Wesley winning a game early in the season on Jan. 21, with a score of 68-61 and losing one resently on Saturday, Feb. 21 79-68.
“Exciting, exciting to see such a young team performing so well, they have a promising future,” Senior Anne Dougherty said as she watched from the sideline. The Lady Cavs came out in the second half with a strong lead and maintained the lead until the five minute marker. The team never regained its lead after the turn of events.
Jen Scapellati, a sophomore volleyball player who attended the game, said, “Pretty intense. The girls are doing amazing.”
Wesley now advances to the semifinals.
Posted to the web by Marisa Gallelli
