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Hurricanes Fall to George Junior
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@ Ellwood City 12/7

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One that got away. That’s the best way to describe the New Castle Red Hurricanes’ loss to a tall and athletic George Junior Republic team in the championship game of the Tip-Off Classic.

The Canes lead nearly from the outset and were up by as much a 14 points in the second period, but George Jr. battled back and finally took the lead on the last shot of the third quarter. George Jr. was ahead by seven in the fourth before the Canes rallied back to within three with just a minute and a half left.

That’s when Joe Carter hit a lay-up and was fouled. A technical foul was also called on GJR. The Canes were down by three, looking at three foul shots and getting the ball, opportunity was knocking. Carter missed the free throw. Mark Cook hit the first of the technical free throws but missed the second. The Canes got the ball and did tie the game at 1:12 on a Cook driving lay-up but a quick George Jr. score put New Castle behind again. The Canes missed a ‘three’ and GJR scored again. Another missed ‘three’ by New Castle and the die was cast. Hurricanes lose 74 - 69.

George Junior opened the scoring with a long three by John Hollingsworth (Tournament MVP) New Castle responded with buckets from Jory Malone, Chris McKnight and Dom Joseph and led 6-5 after three minutes. GJR scored the next seven points in just 32 seconds and had a 12 - 6 lead.

The Canes then went on a defense powered 13 - 0 run on two ‘threes’ from Malone, one by Mark Cook (Tournament Outstanding Player), two free throws from Jamahl Lewis and a ‘two’ by Joe Carter. Canes 19 GJR 12 with 1:33 to play in the first period. The quarter ended with the Hurricanes on top 25 - 19.

Chris McKnight was on fire to start the second as he scored the first six points of the period. Two free throws by George Jr. were followed by a ‘three’ by Cook and a free throw by Malone that gave the Canes their biggest lead of the game 35 - 21. GJR went on to out score New Castle 14 - 10 to end the half and pull with in 10, 45 - 35.

George Jr. started the second half by out scoring the Canes 12 - 5 and pulling within three points of the lead, 50 - 47. A ‘three’ by Cook put the lead back at six but GJR quickly scored again. Two free throws by Dom Joseph again put the lead at six, but George Jr. scored the last seven points of the period to grab a 56 - 57 lead after three periods.

A Hurricanes missed shot and a turnover led to five GJR points and a 61 - 55 lead. Cook hit two free throws and Joseph hit a lay-up at 6:37 to get the Canes back to within two. Five straight points by GJR put them up by seven at the 5:08 mark.

Lewis hit two free throws then a Cane steal and another Lewis free throw made it 66 -62 at 3:46. George Jr. scored again at 3:07 and Lewis scored again to keep the Hurricanes within four at 2:33. A foul by New Castle made it 69 - 66 GJR, with 2:19 to play.

That’s when opportunity knocked and the Canes’ left the door ajar, not kicked open.

New Castle struggled valiantly but came up short. A combination of youthful mistakes contributed to this loss but the potential looks to be limitless.

Mark Cook with 21 led the Canes in scoring for the second straight game. Chris McKnight and Joe Carter each added 10 points. Jory Malone was leading rebounder with seven.

Hurricane Breezes: Tom Whitten sat out for the second game with an undetermined illness that he is being tested for.

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