All Hallows Surprises Molloy in OT
All Hallows and Archbishop Molloy put on one of the best games you'll see in a high school CHSAA first round. The game went to overtime with All Hallows coming out as the victor 82-78.
In the first half, it seemed All Hallows would definitely win, but Molloy showed heart as they came back in the second half. It may have also seemed that All Hallows 7-man roster might have run out of gas after while that allowed Molloy to come back, but All Hallows Head Coach John Carey thinks otherwise.
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"I think it was a combination of a lot of factors. One you got to give credit to other team they made some adjustments. Number two, I just think our inexperience hurt us. You know we're young, we don't have a lot of experience. Some of our decisions weren't great. I can't speak highly enough about the kids hanging in there through a lot of adversary. Not only today and in today's game, but in the whole city," said Coach Carey.
Devon Collier, the 6'7 sophomore center, led All Hallows to victory scoring 32 points. His and-1 plays along with Juan Diaz hitting several threes is what allowed the All Hallows Gaels to get a 37-25 point lead at half time. The Molloy Stanners always seemed to have slow starts of the beginning of each quarter. They didn't pick up the pace until late in the third.
All Hallows started to loose their rhythm, making turnovers and committing unnecessary fouls. Early in the fourth Molloy's junior guard, Russ Smith, blocks Juan Diaz on a fast break, which got Molloy's Ashton Pankey to the line. A three by Matt Grogan and another assist form Smith to Pankey is when the Stanners finally took the lead with 5:51 in the fourth at 56-57.
Eslyn Hernandez got hot for Molloy hitting two threes and a long two pointer. Rashawn Stores answered back with a three and Collier gets two put back lay-ups to take the lead back 70-67 with nine seconds left in the game. Russell Smith was determined not to die then and there though when he a hit a three right before the buzzer sounded, sending them to overtime 70-70.
Russell Smith hit two three's and a long two in OT giving him 24 points, but it wasn't enough to out do Collier going to the rim and Rashawn Stores clutch free throws to advance them to the next round, facing Bishop Loughlin on Friday at Christ the King's gym. Recognition must go out to Molloy's Head Coach, Jack Curran, completing his 50th season with a game well played.
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