Sports

Boys Basketball: Mattituck uses 22-2 run to take down Mercy

Mattituck's Ryan Mowdy blocking a shot while Bishop McGann-Mercy's Eddie Kneski (15) and Joe Jeskie (3) watch. (Credit: Garret Meade)
Mattituck’s Ryan Mowdy blocking a shot while Bishop McGann-Mercy’s Eddie Kneski (15) and Joe Jeskie (3) watch. (Credit: Garret Meade)

TUCKERS 66, MONARCHS 58

More than a few eyebrows may have been raised over how Bishop McGann-Mercy was taking it to Mattituck in the first half of Tuesday night’s high school boys basketball game. The Tuckers were having trouble guarding McGann-Mercy’s Kevin Santacroce. They never held the lead in the opening 16 minutes, trailing virtually the entire half. An upset was in the making.

Or so it seemed.

The Tuckers opened the third quarter on a stunning 22-2 run and never relinquished their lead in a 66-58 win on their home floor. Parker Tuthill scored 8 of his 16 points during the game-changing run, which turned an 8-point deficit into a 46-34 lead. Tuthill also had 6 assists.

Joe Tardif put up 13 points and 5 assists, Will Gildersleeve had 11 points and Ryan Mowdy came off the bench to supply a double-double, with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Tuckers (8-2, 4-2 Suffolk County League VII).

Three Monarchs — Kevin Santacroce, Andrew Glasgow and Jasper Bradley — fouled out over the final 3 minutes 13 seconds.

McGann-Mercy was sparked by the play of Joe Jeskie and Santacroce. Jeskie scored 17 points and had 6 assists. Santacroce was in foul trouble for much of the game. He had three personal fouls next to his name by halftime and picked up his fourth foul 3:51 into the third quarter. Santacroce scored 16 points before heading to the bench for good late in the game.

Mattituck’s Dan Fedun, who grabbed 9 rebounds, fouled out with 2:08 to go.

McGann-Mercy dropped to 3-7, 2-4.

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