Though Servite High boys’ basketball team lead for the majority of a non-league game against La Salle, it let the contest slip away in the final quarter. In the end, La Salle prevailed, posting a 59-55 victory in front of a loud home crowd inside of Servite’s gymnasium.
The win dropped the Friars to a 1-1 overall record. The team previously defeated El Toro in their only other matchup of the young 2012-2013 season.
La Salle, which remains unbeaten, bumped its overall record to 4-0.
Though Servite High boys’ basketball team lead for the majority of a non-league game against La Salle, it let the contest slip away in the final quarter. In the end, La Salle prevailed, posting a 59-55 victory in front of a loud home crowd inside of Servite’s gymnasium.
The win dropped the Friars to a 1-1 overall record. The team previously defeated El Toro in their only other matchup of the young 2012-2013 season.
La Salle, which remains unbeaten, bumped its overall record to 4-0.
The Friars started the physical matchup with a 3-pointer to start the game and ended the first quarter in front 14-9. Both teams then played a strong second quarter, with La Salle tying the contest at 21-21, but Servite still managed to end the half with a 28-27 lead.
In the third quarter, the lead changed hands several times. La Salle went ahead with four minutes to go at 36-35, but then Servite notched five straight points to regain control of the game. When La Salle scored a layup, Servite’s Jake Rivera retaliated with a 3-pointer to increase the lead. Rivera then hit another trey at the buzzer to give the Friars at 46-44 advantage with one quarter left to play.
However, La Salle came out strong in the fourth, and though Servite managed to knot the game 52-52, La Salle came through at the free-throw line to seal the victory.
For Servite, Brandon Rice had 14 points and Neil Pau’u notched 11. Additionally, Louis Juego, Trevor Treinen, and Rivera each finished with 7 points, and Eric Torres had 4 points.
Max Shlemmer also finished with 3 points and Travis Waller, who made headlines with the football team last fall, ended with a pair.
The Friars received a tremendous boost from the sixth man in the stands. The student section was amazing and supportive, and it will prove dangerous for any visiting team this winter.
