Too many turnovers is hazardous to any basketball team’s health. That’s what cost the Shelton High boys basketball team on Tuesday in the Masuk Boys Basketball Holiday Tournament championship game. Shelton committed 16 first half turnovers, 24 overall, in a 60 – 49 loss to Masuk and dropped to 3 – 3. The Panthers raised their record to 4 – 1.
“Their run and jump hurt us,” said Gaels coach Brian Gardiner. “We knew they were going to use it because we are bigger than them and worked on it in practice but we weren’t able to counter it in the first half.”
Senior co-captain Ray Pendagast said, “They played great defense and we had too many turnovers.”
Masuk jumped out to a 19 – 10 lead in the first quarter and its lead peaked at 16, 33 – 17 when junior center Glenn Taylor scored on a putback off the offensive glass.
Senior Christian Esposito was Shelton’s bright spot in the first half. Esposito (17 points, 20 rebounds, two assists, one steal, three blocked shots) scored the team’s first six points and had 10 points and 12 rebounds at the break.
Juniors Shaquill Holman (five points, three rebounds) swished a three-pointer and Aaron Gagner (three points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal, one forced turnover) hit a free throw in the waning seconds of the second quarter to pull the Gaels within 14 at the break, 35 – 21.
Shelton had the upper hand in the second half with Pendagast (18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, one blocked shot) leading the charge. Pendagast scored 12 of his 18 points after the break.
However, the lead hovered between eight and 11 points in the third quarter and the Panthers pushed it back out to 15 points, 45 – 30. Gagner’s layup in the final seconds cut it to 45 – 32 after three quarters and Holman’s layup made it 45 – 34 early in the fourth quarter. Masuk senior Michael Bartell answered with a trifecta to make it 48 – 34 with 6:50 remaining in the game.
“We came out fighting in the second half and we tried to close the gap but they made some shots and we had too many turnovers,” said Pendagast.
The Gaels cut it to six 50 – 44 and 52 – 46 with Pendagast swishing a trey and hitting three layups in this span, two which Gagner set up. Senior Matt Kondor (six points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, two blocked shots, two forced turnovers) fed Pendagast for his trifecta. Esposito scored on a putback and hit a free throw.
Junior Bryan Fitzgerald (two assists, one steal, three forced turnovers) was a pest on defense for Shelton and forced the Panthers into making bad decisions. Masuk had eight second half turnovers, 12 overall. Senior captain Craig Dwelle (two rebounds) also contributed for the Gaels.
Panthers senior captain Brendan Buckley ended all hopes of a Shelton comeback when he hit two free throws and Taylor added a three-point play to make it 57 – 47 with 2:10 left.
“We couldn’t get over the six-point hump,” said Gardiner.
Not taking advantage of their opportunities also cost the Gaels. Shelton was a paltry 5‑for-16 (31 percent) from the free throw line. The Gaels hope to correct this and other maladies when they return to the court next Tuesday at home against Sheehan High.
“Foul shooting is mental and I don’t know what happened,” said Gardiner. “We have the big guys who can play and the guards have to do a better job.”
Pendagast said, “Shelton will get a big win next Tuesday.”
