Big Red boys upset, fall for first time
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STEUBENVILLE -- Alliance Marlington brought a deceiving 1-4 record to town Thursday for the fourth-annual Chuck Watt/John Nese Holiday Classic.
The Dukes put together one impressive performance in knocking Big Red from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 71-66 victory.
With guard Andrew Pucci contributing eight points and freshman Connor Evanich connecting twice from long distance, Marlington jumped out to a 19-14 lead after the opening eight minutes. Both teams scored 22 during the second, and the visitors took a 41-36 advantage into the intermission.
Senior Josh Zimmerman got hot for Big Red during the second quarter, accounting for 10 of his team's points.
Mike Haney's club battled back in the third and closed to within two thanks to a Zimmerman hoop. Senior Blane Himmelheber, however, drained a triple, and Marlington led 54-49 with going into the final frame.
Zimmerman connected from behind the arc to make it 61-59 Marlington midway through the fourth, but Pucci scored twice and Himmelheber added two, as the Dukes built an eight-point advantage to seal the deal.
"Marlington plays a tough schedule, and they definitely were prepared for us," Big Red coach Mike Haney said. "They got after it from the opening tip, credit to them. We didn't shoot it well early, and that hurt us. Also, we just didn't hit the offensive boards like we have been doing all season."
Pucci, Marlington's junior dandy, finished with 29 points to take game-scoring honors. He also was named his team's MVP. Himmelheber contributed 20 and Evanich 12, all coming via the long ball. The Dukes finished with nine 3-pointers and were a strong 12 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Zimmerman, Big Red's MVP, had 24 points. Calvin Bickerstaff and James Roundtree scored 10 each.
Marlington outrebounded Big Red 27-20. Reece Kackley and Cameron Bennett grabbed six boards each. Jorian Jones had seven for Steubenville.
"We had our chances; we just couldn't seem to get over the hump," Haney said. "We had it down to two or three a couple of times. They would shoot, miss and we couldn't get a rebound. On one trip, they were able to get an offensive rebound and make a 3.
"We have to do a better job of closing out on the defensive end. We just didn't defend from the opening tip. We were down 6-0, and they beat us down the court twice. That shouldn't happen. In the first half, they were seven of nine from the 3-point line. We have to defend a lot better than we did tonight if we want to win basketball games."
Big Red is back in action today, hosting Martins Ferry in the classic. Marlington, meanwhile, will test Toronto.
"It's going to be another tough one for us," Haney said. "Martins Ferry beat us down there last year, so we have to be ready to go."
GAME NOTES
¯ Chase Zimmerman scored 13 points and Cade Kernahan added 11, as Big Red registered a 61-37 triumph over Toronto's junior varsity. Shane Keenan paced the Red Knights with 16 points. Toronto's varsity will square off with Marlington today in the tourney.
¯ The junior varsity schedule for today has Big Red's boys facing Martins Ferry at 4 p.m. in the Joseph Stern Center, with Big Red's girls battling Catholic Central at 5:30 p.m.
¯ The varsity card has Toronto matched with Marlington at 4 p.m., Big Red taking on Martins Ferry at 5:30 p.m. and the girls teams from Big Red and Central closing the event with a 7 p.m. tip. All varsity games will be played in the Crimson Center.
Marlington 71, Big Red 66
Marlington 19-22-13-17 -- 71
Big Red 14-22-13-17 -- 66
MARLINGTON (2-4): Himmelheber 6 5-5 20; Mason 1 0-0 2; Kackley 0 0-1 0; Tortola 0 0-0 0; Pucci 12 3-5 29; Cooley 1 0-0 2; Beachy 0 0-0 0; Bennett 1 4-4 6; Evanich 4 0-0 12. TOTALS: 25 12-15 71.
BIG RED (6-1): Rauch 2 1-2 5; Wallace 3 0-0 7; Biasi 0 0-0 0; J. Jones 3 2-3 8; Bickerstaff 4 2-3 10; Zimmerman 10 1-3 24; Roundtree 4 2-4 10; Bracone 0 0-0 0; T. Jones 1 0-0 2. Totals 27 8-15 66.
3-POINT GOALS: Marlington 9 (Evanich 4; Himmelheber 3; Pucci 2); Big Red 3 (Zimmerman 2; Wallace); REBOUNDS: Marlington 26 (Kackley, Bennett 6 each); Big Red 20 (J. Jones 7); TURNOVERS: Marlington 14; Big Red 9.