The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Dukes weather Cardinals’ hot start in win
Brookside scores 30 in the first, cools off as Wellington ups pressure
After surviving Brookside’s first quarter blitzkrieg, Wellington relied on its defense to get back on track.
The host Cardinals scored 30 points in the first quarter, but the Dukes battened down the hatches defensively en route to a 79-65 Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division win on Dec. 22.
“I thought they came out and shot really well in the first quarter,” Wellington coach Dan Gundert said. “I was really proud of our guys. They responded after the first quarter. This is a tough place (to play) and a tough win for us.”
The Cardinals (1-5, 0-5) hit six 3-pointers in the first quarter with Jacob Papa (18 points) and Jacob Cole (15 points) each hitting three to give Brookside a 30-24 lead at the end of the quarter.
Deciding to not pressure Brookside’s offense and contest the three-point line, Wellington (6-1, 4-1) only gave up six points in the second quarter to hold a 37-36 lead at the half.
The defense continued to smother the Cardinals’ offense, which allowed Wellington to go on a run and break things open.
Brookside’s Norman Elias hit a driving layup to tie the game at 46 before the Dukes broke things open.
Holding Brookside to five points in the final three and a half minutes of the third quarter, Wellington closed the quarter out with 16-5 run.
Leading the charge offensively for the Dukes was six-foot-four Max Joppeck. The big man scored 12 of his game-high 26 points in the third quarter. Joppeck started the run with his only three of the game. He also played a part in the Dukes’ six-point possession near the end of the quarter.
Joppeck hit a tough layup in the lane, while Brookside was called for an intentional foul. Joppeck, who also snagged 17 rebounds, split the free throws and on the ensuing Dukes’ possession, Brandon Orozco buried a three to give Wellington a 62-48 lead before Papa hit a three to end the quarter.
After watching the Cardinals offensive explosion in the first quarter, Joppeck knew Wellington was going to have to do just a bit more.
“They just came out and shot the ball really well,” Joppeck said. “We just had to keep matching the momentum. Coach got on us (between quarters) and we had to play harder.
“We knew that we had to push and beat their zone ... we wanted to give them less time to set up the zone.”
With the lead in the fourth quarter, Wellington kept Brookside at arms’ length for the win.
Brookisde coach Phil Aregento thought the officiating played a role in the Dukes win.
“I thought the three blind mice did a good job,” Argento said. “I want to make sure I get them on my Christmas list. They were outstanding tonight.
“Officiating has a way of changing a game. It can change the tempo of the game, it can change who is in the game, (and) it can change the way you play.”