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George Jr. Republic 12/4

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The uniforms were the same, the plays were the same, even the coach was still the same but the players were different. Another thing that was the same was the Hurricanes coming out on top. Tonight it was New Castle’s Runnin' Red Hurricanes 68, Seton-LaSalle 45 in the 1999 Tip-Off Classic at the New Castle Field House.

Inexperience is a word to describe this years starting five. Seniors Chris McKnight and Jory Malone along with sophomore Mark Cook all saw some action last year but Dom Joseph and Mike Pagley are both raw sophomores.

This version of the Canes looks to be a very athletic group. They worked hard on defense, crashed the boards as a group and dove for every loose ball. That type of effort will go along way whether the score is always in the favor of the Hurricanes or not.

Tonight New Castle didn’t make their first field goal until nearly three minutes had passed but that put them ahead 5-4. The Rebels scored at 4:25 to go ahead 6-5. Then Joe Carter hit a turn-around to give the Canes back the lead. LaSalle then went back ahead 8-7. Chris McKnight then came alive and hit a ‘three’ and a ‘two’ that put the Canes ahead 14-10 at 2:29. LaSalle went back ahead 15-14 at 1:03 but McKnight hit a three as time expired giving the Canes a 17-15 lead after one period.

Cook scored on a nifty drive to the hoop to start the second period putting the Hurricanes up by four. The Rebels came right back but Carter scored underneath to keep the margin at four. LaSalle hit a free throw then Matt Conti and Cook hit back to back ‘threes’ to put New Castle up 27-19. LaSalle got back to within three as the end of the half neared but Carter scored again giving the Canes a five point halftime lead, 30-25.

The third quarter turned out to be the Mark Cook show as he scored nine of the Canes’ 12 points in the period. Cook scored the first seven points of the period before the Rebels scored at the 4:22 mark. The Canes swarmed and trapped making moving the ball difficult for the Rebels. LaSalle then reeled off the next seven points before Cook knocked down a ‘three’ to stop the run. Pagley scored New Castle’s other two points in the quarter and the Hurricanes led 42-34 after three.

Nine straight points to start the fourth led by Pagley with back to back ‘threes’ (sounds familiar doesn’t it?) followed by McKnight’s third ‘three’ of the night put New Castle ahead 51-34 with two minutes gone in the quarter. LaSalle scored the next four points then the Canes outscored the Rebels 17-7 the rest of the way to win easily, 68-45.

Mark Cook led the Hurricanes in scoring with 23 while Chris McKnight added 16 and Mike Pagley 12. McKnight pulled down eight rebounds while Jory Malone grabbed seven.

Tomorrow night the Canes face George Jr. Republic in the championship game. George Jr. beat Pittsbugh Perry.

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