It was a challenging scenario for Park basketball.
Playing before a near-capacity home-court crowd, the Wolfpack squared off a tall, talented and top-ranked Park Central team. The Pirates also …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in, using the login form, below, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
It was a challenging scenario for Park basketball.
Playing before a near-capacity home-court crowd, the Wolfpack squared off a tall, talented and top-ranked Park Central team. The Pirates also came in a little bit angry, coming off their first and only loss of the season, an 82-72 defeat at Totino Grace two days before.
The results were predictable. Park Center got off to a very fast start and went on to take an 86-63 victory over the Wolfpack.
Park Center stormed to a 14-1 start in the first five minutes as the Wolfpack struggled to get their footing early on. The Pirates kept a double digit lead the rest of the game but the Wolfpack rallied after their slow start and actually played Park Central more or less even the rest of the way.
Park Center led 41-19 at the half. The second half was a different story as the visitors outscored the Wolfpack just 45-44 after the break.
“I thought we played a lot better in the second half,” said Park head coach Mike Weah. “First half you could tell the nerves were there. That team is who they are. They’re a really good team, they put pressure on you. They turn you over. If you’re not ready to play at that pace and you’re not ready to play at that physicality you’re in trouble and the first half we were in trouble.
“Second half we relaxed, guys started to believe in themselves and played a lot better,” Weah continued. “I think we’re capable of doing a lot. When this game was on the schedule, I’m like, I don’t know what they’re thinking putting this game on the schedule but you can’t say that you want to be successful and then not play teams that are going to push you to that point. Do this game was what it was. I think it helped us get better. It will prove that it was good for us at the end of the season.”
Park senior guard AJ Kennedy sparked the Wolfpack offensively, dropping in 22 points. Tayvion Stewart added 19.
“I thought AJ played his heart out,” said Weah. “There was a point where he was the only one who had something going offensively. He’s just been a great leader so far this year. .. If more guys would follow his lead we’ll be all right.”
Park Center put six players in double figures, led by guard and University of Washington commit Casmir Chavis’s 20 points.
Park 72, Irondale 69
Park won its third straight contest after starting the season 0-2, with a 72-69 win at Irondale Tuesday.
The Wolfpack improved to 2-1 in the Suburban East Conference while Irondale remained winless in the league at 0-3.
Park plays St. Paul Academy and Summit School in the St. Payl Harding Holiday tournament on Wednesday, Dec. 2, starting at 2 p.m. Others in the four-team tournament are St. Agnes and host St. Paul Harding.
