DeFoe connects from deep for Crusaders
Senior scores 22, drains three treys in fourth quarter.
Notre Dame-Green Pond featured a different leading scorer in each of its past four games, winning them all.
Zach DeFoe took his star turn Thursday to keep the Crusaders rolling.
DeFoe drilled three fourthquarter 3-pointers and added a pair of free throws, allowing Notre Dame-Green Pond to separate from Palmerton. He finished with a season-high 22 points as the Crusaders pulled away for a 64-49 Colonial League boys basketball win.
A fifth-straight victory moved Notre Dame-Green Pond (9-3 overall, 6-2 Colonial League) into a third-place tie with Wilson in the East Division standings. DeFoe made sure the Blue Bombers (7-6, 4-4) would not rally.
His three fourth-quarter 3s came in an 11-2 run that buried Palmerton in a 17-point hole. He added two free throws before heading to the bench shortly after the Blue Bombers pulled their starters.
“He got really hot,” Notre Dame-Green Pond coach Pat Boyle said. “But it was his aggressiveness the whole game, getting to the basket, that got him in the flow of the game. Then when he gets into the flow of the game, his catch-and-shoot game works.
“I really believe that when you're aggressive and you're doing things the right way, those shots just are more likely to go in.”
Filippo Baldo pushed for points early for Notre DameGreen Pond. He scored eight of his 16 points in the first quarter, when the Crusaders went ahead to stay.
Brendan Boyle, Casey Campbell and Chris Omick combined for another 20 points for Notre Dame-Green Pond. The Crusaders led by 11 at halftime and never allowed their advantage to dip below seven in the second half.
“We're just keeping it together and playing as a team,” DeFoe said. “We have to all trust each other every moment of the game and get the best shot available. That's what we've been doing.”
Second-quarter scare
Notre Dame-Green Pond endured a scare when Brendan Boyle crashed to the floor after converting a second-quarter runner along the right baseline. His teammates helped him to the bench after several minutes as he kept weight off his left leg.
The trainers diagnosed Boyle with a bone bruise, allowing him to return to the floor if he could handle the pain. He did, scoring six of his eight points after halftime.
“I trust the trainers, because they're very conservative,” Pat Boyle said. “They're not going to put him back out there if he's in danger of getting hurt more. So I was proud of him toughing it out.”
The Palmerton side
Justin Hosier led the Blue Bombers with 20 points. Nate Dougherty added 12, but the Crusaders gave him few easy looks.
Notre Dame-Green Pond also held Kody Kratzer to no field goals and two points. Dougherty, Hosier and Kratzer began the day averaging a combined 50 points per game.
The Blue Bombers have dropped three straight Colonial League games to slip to .500 in league play.
Looking ahead
Palmerton returns home for its final game of the week Friday, hosting Northern Lehigh in a West Division matchup.
Notre Dame-Green Pond continues a three-game homestand Saturday afternoon when it hosts rival Wilson.
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