L.I. Lutheran Grounds Chaminade

MINEOLA, NY - It's one thing to trounce a team on their home court but it's another thing to dominate them at their own game.

Historically, Chaminade is known as a dead-eye perimeter team with good and patient ball movement that eventually frees up the open man but the Flyers met their match on Thursday against Long Island Lutheran who beat them from the perimeter.

On paper, it appeared as if Chaminade could give the Crusaders run for the money but a 97-58 final score said otherwise. An aerial attack wasn't the original plan. "Our first key was punish inside and I think because of our size a lot of people respect that and there's a lot of open looks for our guys on the perimeter," said LuHi Head Coach John Buck. "If they're open, you can't turn 'em down. It defies the flow of basketball."

In the first half, with two Division I head coaches on hand, Devonte Green had both Tom Crean (Indiana) and Tim Cluess (Iona) taking note as he punished the Flyers singlehandedly from the three point line. The senior guard outscored the entire Chaminade squad in the first half with five three-pointers and monster windmill dunk for good measure. After leading by 9 points, L.I. Lutheran extended its lead to 45-25 at the midway point.

The Flyers were buoyed somewhat with buckets from Mike McGuire '16 (14 points), Nolan Pendergast '16 (8 points) and Owen Pendergast'16 (10 points) but after Chaminade was scorched from the perimeter in the opening half, LuHi then went back to its original plan and began battering the Mineola high school down low.

With 5'10" Brandon Jacobs '17 (6 points) running the point, Rojaye Campbell '16 (8 points & 14 rebounds) cleaned up the boards along with 6'8" Donatas Kupsas '18 (14 points & 14 rebounds) and 6'6" Chris Coalman '17 (13 points & 3 rebounds). The Crusaders' lead continued to grow and after three quarters of play, they maintained an almost insurmountable 24 point advantage. The Flyers, not really built to come from that far behind against an athletic team, allowed LuHi to cruise to a 39 point beat down.

Green scored 20 points in the first half and finished with a game high 31 points (seven 3-pointers) along with 10 rebounds. "He's been unconscious from the perimeter. He's really locked in [for his] senior year more so than I've ever seen him," said Buck.

"Coming into the game, I'm just real focused," said Green about his recent performances. "Shots just keep falling." Asked if he wants to wake up from his unconscious state, Green replied with a smile, "No, Never."