ND Keeps Rolling

[bball4]

ND keeps rolling along as they defeated O/A last night 58-48. Despite another very poor start, ND came on strong in the third quarter and took back control of the game limiting O/A to 5 points. Boccicho came up with another strong performance and made several key free throws down the stretch. Kevin Francis also had a huge game hitting two crucial 3 point shots. O/A again as they did in the first meeting set out to stop Geise in a 3-2 zone. While it certainly limited some of Geise's oppurtunities, it also opened it up for the rest of the ND players. In the first half they could not taken advantage of these good looks but in the third quarter they did and it was lights out. Additionaly they limited O/A's Davis to two points in that quarter.

Elba and Pavilion are left for ND and the #1 seed in class DD is still in reach if ND can win these last two games. Elba is a big rivalry game that could be a testy one. Elba has a great inside game and is coached very well. But again it will be about the guards, and as ND did to O/A's young back court, they will create numerous turnovers especailly as the game wears on, which they should be able to turn into some easy transition baskets. But should be another very good game.

[section5fan]

Great points Bball4. I saw the first Elba-ND game and I will be in attendance tomorrow night. Bottom line - Elba's guards need to show up. Woodworth, Torrey, and Hoover (who didn't play in the first meeting) will produce, but will their guards?

In my opinion, ND does not lose either of the 2 remaining games. Mike Rapone has their team playing well and the way Boccihcio is playing, ND will be tough to beat. The only question I have is this: Will ND be able to rebound come Sectional time?

[hilly]

i was at the game last night and it was a great one. notre dame did what good teams do ... make adjustments when you have to. the switched defenses at the half and created a ton of turnovers in the second half.
bochicchio played another great game and is really becoming a great player. and ryan francis had a terrible first half, but had some huge baskets in the second half.
nd held davis to just two points in the second half (13 in the game), which was a big key.
notre dame will not get the top seed, even without losing either of the final two games. c.g. finney was scheduled to play bishop timon and the game got snowed out. instead of rescheduling, marchand picked up a game with byron-bergen.
as long as b-b doesn't shock finney, they will have enough points for the top seed.
i didn't even know you could pick up games during the season and i hear both rapone and jim burke are pretty ticked off about that.

[section5fan]

What's hurting ND is that teams are playing them 3-2 and they are struggling to break the zone early in games. And if I were Burke and Rapone, I'd be PO'd as well. Finney goes from a Class A team, which is pretty good (I saw them early in the season vs. Ken West), to a mediocre team at best in B-B.

[bball4]

I agree with Hilly that it maybe difficult for ND to end up with the top seed but its certainly not impossible. Even though Finney is ducking Timon and playing Bergen (which they will beat handily and get 7 easy points), they still need to play Monroe and Freddie Thomas and they are not automatic wins. Prattsburg and ND both should be upset about what Finney is doing especially with them scheduling such a poor team that has a large enrollment this late in the season, thus assuring them of enough points to help themselves if Prattsburg or ND stumbles.Basketball should do like baseball does and that is if a team is not on your schedule by a certain point of the season and you arrange a game, that game does not count in your sectional standings. I am glad to see Finney and B-B for that matter, play an extra game, that is always good for the kids, but Finney's timing certainly makes you question their motive.

Regarding ND, Boccicho has been terrific down the stretch as has Kevin Francis. Geise has been outstanding pretty much all year.What they need now is Ryan Francis and Jeff Reddick to put two good half's together. They play great for stretch durning pretty much every game but know at sectional time they need to be more consistent. If they do, I could see ND making a serious run in the tournamnet.