Patch
jumps out to big lead
on way to Division II championship
By Rusty
Bryan
Stars and Stripes
Michael Abrams / S&S
Patch's James Hughes attempts a reverse layup in the Panthers'
DODDS-Europe Division II title game win over ISB. At left is
ISB's Mike Gibson. |
MANNHEIM,
Germany — Less than 24 hours after playing 32 brilliant minutes against
Bitburg,
the International School of Brussels boys saw its hopes of winning the Division
II championship erased in the opening eight minutes Saturday.
Ryan
Murdock dropped in three three-pointers, Sean Spencer banged in another three-ball,
and James Hughes treated the crowd to a thunderous two-hand slam as the Patch
Panthers hammered ISB 24-6 in the first quarter of a 63-28 victory.
"I
think this is about the best game we’ve played," said Murdock, who had
a game-high 21 points.
The
Panthers led 36-15 at halftime and 47-19 after three periods. That left the
champions plenty of time to clear their bench and give their five seniors —
Murdock, Jeff Miller, Chad Spears, Josh Spencer, who scored 11 points, and Gerald
Borja — two minutes of playing time to close the game.
The
only problem Patch encountered was getting into the dressing room after the
game. It was occupied by the Ramstein Lady Royals, whose Division I title game
followed Patch’s contest.
Hughes,
the 6-foot-8 newcomer who has brought a rare element of height to European basketball,
finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds in less than 15 minutes of playing time.
Nick
Anderson, another newcomer with size, made four steals and pulled down nine
rebounds.
ISB
was led by Adil El-Baqqali, who had 10 points. His teammates, who dominated
top-seeded and defending champion Bitburg 62-44 on Friday night, found the going
tough against the almost unfairly talented Panthers.
Mustafa
El-Baqqali had just two points Saturday after going six of seven from the floor
and eight of nine from the line against Bitburg.
In
the boys’ third-place game Saturday, Mannheim’s youthful Bison established themselves
as a rising force in Division II by dominating top-seeded Bitburg 74-55.
Mannheim
freshman Andre Nelson continued his growth spurt with 20 points and eight rebounds
against a Bitburg squad whose hearts might not have been fully into it after
Friday’s loss to ISB.
J.R.
Robinson, however, was fully involved, scoring 28 points and pulling down 21
rebounds for the Barons.
Back to February's stories
Page Two news roundup
Stories from January, 2001
Stories from December, 2000
Stories from November, 2000
Stories from October, 2000
Stories from August and September, 2000
Stories from June and July, 2000
Home |
