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Aliquippa @ Robert Morris 12/11 8:30 pm

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Tonight at the New Castle Field House the Hurricanes faced Pine-Richland for just the second time ever. The Canes beat the Rams in 1996 by 30 when the ‘fab four’ were just sophomores. AAA Pine-Richland expected things to be different tonight as they are an experienced team with high expectations for this season.

Starting lineup for P-R of 6-6 Sr., 6-9 Sr., 6-1 Jr., 5-11 Sr., 5-11 Sr. & 6-10 off the bench Vs New Castle’s 6-2 Sr., 6-2 Sr., 6-2 So., 6-2 So., 5-11 So. appeared to be a mismatch.

The Rams jumped out to an early lead as the Canes were very tentative. The Rams led after one period 14 - 9. The second period was much the same as no Cane was looking to shoot and the Hurricanes only scored six points in the quarter. Defense enabled the Canes to stay close though, as they trailed at the half by 7, 22 - 15.

The second half the Canes went from tentative to tenacious, forcing nine turnovers in a quarter and a half, seven of which led directly to 15 Hurricane points. New Castle’s quickness and speed was just too much for the Rams. The Canes hit their foul shots down the stretch and won going away 56 - 39.

The Rams hit the first two shots to lead 4 - 0 after two minutes. Jory Malone on a feed from Mike Pagley got the Canes on the board at 5:30. Pine-Richland scored the next two baskets to lead 8 - 2. A Malone putback and Tom Whitten’s first points of the season got the Canes back to within two at 2:46. The Rams scored three more times to end the period leading 14 - 9.

Pine-Richland scored to open the second period to lead by seven. The Rams next score was two free throws at 5:18 to go up by nine as the Canes had yet to score in the period. Nearly three more minutes would pass before either team scored.

A sequence of Rams turnover, Canes miss, Canes steal, Canes turnover, Canes steal, Canes miss, Rams miss, finally ended when Jamahl Lewis scored the Hurricanes first points of the period with 2:18 left. Another Cane steal led to a Chris McKnight bucket and the Canes were within five.

The Rams scored at 1:30 then Mark Cook hit the first two of his 11 of 12 free throw shooting night. Pine-Richland scored at the buzzer to lead 22 - 15 at intermission.

For the first time this season the Canes started a different five to begin a quarter, as Matt Conti and Jamahl Lewis were on the floor to begin the half. Cook scored quickly for the Canes and Conti scored after a steal to get New Castle within three. Pine-Richland it a ‘two’ but free throws by Dom Joseph (1-2), Joe Carter (2-2) and Cook (2-2) led the Canes back to a tie with the Rams at the 4:07 mark and keyed an 11-3 run to end the period. New Castle led after three quarters, 30 - 27. A brilliant play by Malone had given the Hurricanes the lead during the run with 3:07 left.

A New Castle turnover to start the fourth got the Rams back to within three at 6:24 but Lewis took over and scored the next six points to give the Canes a seven point lead. Pine-Richland hit two free throws then Cook hit a ‘three’, Joseph two free throws and Lewis stole the ball, made the shot and was fouled making the free throw giving the Red Hurricanes a 13 point lead with 3:59 remaining.

The Rams never got closer than 10 the rest of the way as New Castle hit their free throws down the stretch extending the lead to the final, 56 - 39.

Lewis led New Castle in scoring with 15 while Cook added 13. Malone hauled down eight rebounds to lead the Canes.

New Castle was 23 of 25 from the charity stripe.

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