Kolek’s 38 too much for Tolman
PAWTUCKET – In a tiny and cramped gym that’s been known to cause fits for even the most pinpoint of long-range shooters, Cumberland junior Brandon Kolek felt right at home at Donaldson Memorial Gymnasium.
All Kolek did last night was swish seven 3-pointers as part of a 38-point explosion. He made sure to steer clear of the narrow corners as host Tolman fell, 71-59. The Clippers have now won six straight games while the Tigers have dropped two straight after opening Division II play with three straight wins.
“Brandon kept his composure and what’s happening now is that he’s making everyone else better, too,” stated Cumberland head coach Gary Reedy.
Dyondre Dominguez led Tolman (3-2, Division II, 5-4 overall) with 16 points. Jacob Vargulish supplied a nice spark off the bench as he popped for 15 points.
While Kolek was the talk of the gym, it was Cumberland’s zone defense that paved the way against a Tolman outfit that owned a significant height advantage. The Tigers jumped out to an 11-4 lead before the Clippers hit their stride courtesy of Kolek, who at one point in the first half nailed three straight shots from beyond the arc.
“We played zone the whole game. We’ve been working on it the last couple of days,” said Reedy. “They seemed to have a tough time and unsure of what they wanted to do.”
Tolman head coach Bill Coughlin agreed with the disruptive nature of Cumberland’s zone. Unofficially, the Tigers turned the ball over 20 times.
“We like to run; there’s no secret to that,” said Coughlin. “When you have to check what kind of defense they’re in, you have to slow down. That’s a credit to their coaching staff.”
Tolman and Cumberland (3-2, Division II, 7-4 overall) met back on Dec. 26 in the opening round of the Roadshow Holiday Classic. That night saw Kolek pop for 32 points on six 3-pointers. He cruised into halftime of the rematch with Tolman with a cool 22 points on four threes.
Cumberland’s lead in the first half got as high as eight points (2719) before Tolman made a push that enabled the home team to move to within 30-29. The Clippers, who at one point missed nine straight shots, got a big lift from – who else? – Kolek with time winding down in the half. His three from the top of the key enabled the Clippers to begin the second half with a healthy five-point lead at 34-29.
The Tigers scored the first four points of the latter half but Kolek answered with five straight points before hitting Chris Wright for a layup that put Cumberland up 4134. Hoops by Vargulish and Jose Morales (six points) helped Tolman draw to within 44-42 with 10:41 left, but that’s when Cumberland received a pleasant lift. Emmit Ramos, a junior who was in the game after starting center Jackson Zan can picked up his fourth foul, delivered back-to-back baskets that provided the Clippers with some breathing room at 48-42.
Blessed with a quick first step, Vargulish kept the Tigers afloat with a jumper and a layup that once again made it a two-point deficit for the home team. Up 48-46, Ramos banked in a shot and Kolek knocked down a three off a Tolman turnover that helped open things up for good. Cumberland took its first double-digit lead after a hoop by Cam Rosa made it 62-53 with 3:09 left.
Tyler Kolek netted 10 points for Cumberland, which travels to Shea on Wednesday. Tolman will look to get back on the winning track the same night at Exeter/West Greenwich.