WASHINGTON, D.C.- A 10-0 run late in the second half by Catholic gave the Cardinals a lead they would not let up as the Juniata men's basketball was downed 79-66 in the Landmark Semifinals on Wednesday night at the Dufour Athletic Center. CUA sank 13 free throws in the final three minutes to seal the game.
Unlike when the two teams last met a week ago, the Cardinals did not jump out to a big lead as the Eagle defense kept them in check. Catholic led 13-8 with 10:24 showing on the game clock but JC took its first lead of the game on back-to-back traditional three point plays from Marcus Lee (Carroltown, Pa./Bishop Carroll) and Trevor Clune (Meadville, Pa./Meadville Area HS).
Louis Khouri answered for the Cardinals with an arching three-point shot to put CUA ahead 16-14 at 7:35. Dennis Fisher (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) responded for the Eagles with a jumper to tie the contest at 16-16. Jay Howard scored on a jump shot and was fouled by Fisher. He went to the line to put Catholic up 19-16. Once again, the Eagles had an answer with Damon Rickens (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) nailing the long three-pointer with the shot clock expiring to knot the game at 19-all with 5:43 left in the half.
A quick 8-0 Catholic run staked the Cardinals to a 27-19 lead. JC finished the half on a 7-5 run but CUA went into halftime with a 32-26 advantage.
In the second half, Catholic led 38-30 at the 16:16 mark. A 17-7 run by the Eagles that spanned nearly five and a half minutes of game put Juniata up 47-45 with 10:39 left to play. A 7-0 run by the Cardinals quickly gave the lead to Catholic 52-47 at 8:09. A Rickens' trey at 7:39 made it a one-possession game.
Lee's jump shot with just under seven minutes remaining in the game made it 54-52 Catholic. After a missed Catholic jumper, the Eagles collected the rebound and had chance to take the lead but Justin Fleming's (Richmond, Va./Benedictine College Prep) three-point attempt was off the mark. After a missed three by Bryson Fonville, a foul by Kevin Phanord put Brandon Martinazzi (Cresson, Pa./Bishop Carroll) on the line with a chance to tie the game. Martinazzi missed both attempts and Phanord grabbed the rebound. Fonville's jumper made it 56-52 and Phanord's three-pointer at 4:36 put Catholic on its game-changing run.
Lee led Juniata with 19 points and was one rebound short of a double-double with nine boards. Rickens added 14 points on five-of-nine shooting which included going four-of-six from beyond the three-point arc. Martinazzi finished with 11 points.
Overall, the Eagles and Cardinals had a three percent differential in overall shooting with Juniata having the edge (45.9%-42.9%). Both teams made eight three-point shots but JC was good on 44.4% while the Cardinals were good on 34.8%. The big differential was on the foul line as the Eagles went to the charity stripe five times and was 2-of-5 while CUA was on 31 times and went 23-of-31.
Rebounds favored Catholic 40-32. JC led in the points in the paint, 30-20, and 34-2 in bench points.
