Pats turn up defensive intensity in second half to edge Titans

Matt Metcalf
Posted 1/15/15

Toll Gate’s scoring woes continued on Monday night, as Pilgrim held the Titans to just 11 second-half points in a 45-35 Pats’ win.

The Titans came out in essentially a must-win game and played …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Pats turn up defensive intensity in second half to edge Titans

Posted

Toll Gate’s scoring woes continued on Monday night, as Pilgrim held the Titans to just 11 second-half points in a 45-35 Pats’ win.

The Titans came out in essentially a must-win game and played an impressive first half on the road, as the two teams traded baskets for much of the half.

Luckily for Pilgrim, sharp-shooter Chris Duchesneau couldn’t miss in the opening 16 minutes, leading the Pats with 15 points at halftime. Duchesneau would go on to add six more points in the second half for a game-high 21 points.

Duchesneau helped Pilgrim take the lead with 9:50 left in the first half on a drive to the basket that drew an and-1. He would sink the free throw to give the Pats a 13-12 lead.

“Chris is our only returning starter and he’s a leader for us,” Pilgrim head coach Mike Batalon said. “He helps us both offensively and defensively. We needed all the points he had tonight.”

Toll Gate senior Adam Brice sparked the Titans with eight first-half points, none bigger than his and-1 to tie the game, 18-18, with 5:55 remaining in the first half.

The Titans had a great deal of success in the paint on the offensive end during the first half, as Brice and Austin Ouimette combined for 12 of Toll Gate’s 24 points in the opening half.

“Our problem isn’t on the defensive end, it’s putting the ball in the bucket,” Toll Gate head coach Tom Rayko said. “We had some success in the paint in the first half, but struggled in the second half. Overall, I thought the kids fought throughout the whole game, I just wish we could’ve put the ball in the basket a little bit more.”

An and-1 from Pilgrim’s Mike Broccoli in the final minutes of the first half highlighted a strong finish going into the break, as the Pats took a 28-24 lead into the half.

Titans’ point guard Austin Giard had a team-high nine points at the half.

Toll Gate cut its deficit to one point in the first minute of the second half, when Joel Johnson splashed a three.

However, Pilgrim was able to gradually extend its lead from there to hold off the Titans’ upset bid.

Both teams buckled down defensively in the second half, with Pilgrim only outscoring Toll Gate 17-11.

Freshman forward Tyrone Weeks was a force defensively for Pilgrim in the second half, registering three emphatic blocks.

“He played much better for them in the second half,” Rayko said. “He was much more active in the second half than in the first.”

Batalon also praised his young forward.

“Our defense improved a lot in the second half and Tyrone was our anchor,” Batalon said. “He was immense on the glass and also got some key blocks down the stretch. He’s come a long way for us.”

At the 7:28 mark, Toll Gate’s Kyle McGuire was able to make a nice pass to Ouimette in traffic, who finished at the rim to cut Pilgrim’s lead to 36-33.

But Broccoli gave Pilgrim a lift once again, scoring two big buckets over the next minute to extend the Pats’ lead back out to seven.

In addition to Duchesneau’s 21 points, Broccoli finished with nine for the Pats, while Ethan Schneider scored six.

Giard finished with a team-high 11 points for the Titans, while Brice wasn’t far behind with 10 and Ouimette chipped in with eight.

This season has been a little bit frustrating for Rayko and the Titans, who just can’t keep a full roster healthy.

“We’re yet to have a full varsity roster,” Rayko said.

With the loss, the Titans dropped to 2-5 in Division III-South. They hosted Chariho on Wednesday night, but results were unavailable at press time. Toll Gate will play at Warwick Vets in another rivalry game at 7 p.m. on Friday night.

Pilgrim, on the other hand, sits atop D-III-South after the win over Toll Gate with a 4-2 record.

The Pats played at Vets on Wednesday, but results were unavailable at press time. They will also play at Chariho on Friday night at 7 p.m.

“This is a big week for us, we’re playing the teams in our division,” Batalon said. “It was nice to get this one tonight.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here