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Partly Cloudy Frontcourt leads Kennedy to victory
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Kennedy's Eugene Ciniglio works against Mepham's J.C. Brandmaier during last Friday's Conference AA-III game won by the host Cougars.
Jeff Wilson/Herald
Kennedy took control of its 57-29 victory over Mepham last Friday night early in the first quarter thanks to a strong inside game that dominated the boards. The offensive attack was more diverse than just put backs and short jumpers, however, as four players combined for five three-pointers.
The Cougars (6-4 overall, 3-2, Conference AA-III) held a 19-5 edge after one quarter, led by senior Brandon Mills, who scored seven of his game-high 12 points. Mills also flexed some muscle in the paint grabbing 11 rebounds, while junior Will Colon (eight boards), senior Eugene Ciniglio (five) and Brian O'Gorman (four rebounds, three blocks) also contributed down low.
"[Brendan] Mills made us adjust a lot," Pirates coach Rich Wojcieski said. "He had some real nice moves. And if you go down low to play him, they have [Joey] Karo up top."
Nine different Cougars scored in the win over Mepham, including juniors Andrew Kruter and Joey Karo who each chipped in with 11, six of which came on a pair of three-pointers. "Joey's a very good shooter," Kennedy coach Rory Block said. "And with our rebounding getting us out on a break, [it helps] get us some easy shots."
Junior Mike Teich scored seven points and played a key role in limiting Mepham's top scorer, senior point guard Stephen Luczaj, to just five points, three that came on the first score of the game, a three-point shot. Teich had three steals and also played well getting out on the fastbreak. Senior Mike Woolfson paced the Pirates in the scoring column with nine points, all on three-pointers.
"We've got a pretty physical team," Block said. "We've got some strength, and we've also got some good guards."
Kennedy lost any chance at gaining some additional steam in Conference AA-III by dropping a 55-52 decision to a still-unbeaten Plainview-JFK last Monday. The Pirates, meanwhile, knocked off Calhoun, 64-53, as Luczaj bounced back with a game-high 23 points. Senior Doug Marshall (16 points, 12 rebounds) and senior J.C. Brandmaier (10, 12), each had double-doubles in the win.
Kennedy hosts the Colts, on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and won the earlier meeting between the teams, 66-36, in the Conference AA-III opener on Dec. 17.
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