Prep Basketball: St. Stanislaus slips past St. Martin 54-50 Tuesday night
St. Stanislaus guard Rafael Cohen surveys the situation vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)
By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
Bay ST. LOUIS — St. Stanislaus handed St. Martin its first loss of the season Tuesday night in an all “Southern Six” showdown.
The home-standing Rock-A-Chaws slipped past the Yellow Jackets 54-50 here in Brother Peter Memorial gymnasium. The game was the season-opener for SSC, while St. Martin falls to 2-1 on the new campaign.
Waring Kane of St. Stanislaus goes up to the basket for a shot as St. Martin’s R.J. Keys defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)St. Martin’s Markell Simmons leaps high for a jump shot as Alan Gilliam of SSC defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)David Belle of St. Stanislaus drives past a St. Martin defender Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)St. Martin’s Markell Simmons glides through the lane towards the basket as Waring Kane of SSC defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)Jason Forte of St. Stanislaus puts up a free throw vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)
The home team jumped out to a 12-5 advantage after the first frame thanks to six points from junior point guard Rafael Cohen, and then SSC slowly stretched that lead to 29-14 at halftime as forward Jason Forte pocketed five points in the second stanza.
But St. Martin rallied as the second half unfolded and got 10 points from Gulfport transfer Markell Simmons in the third frame and eight points from Terrence Allen in the fourth period to cut the deficit into single digits late in the game.
The Yellow Jackets trailed by three with 1:30 to play but could never quite get over the hump due in large part to being out-rebounded 42-22 by the more physical Rocks.
St. Martin’s Markell Simmons stretches up for a jumper as David Belle of SSC defends Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)St. Martin’s R.J. Keys ponders his options vs. St. Stanislaus Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)St. Martin’s R. J. Keys glides to the goal for a lay-up as Max Baria of SSC reacts Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)St. Stanislaus head coach Daniel Grieves chats strategy with Rock guard Rafael Cohen vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)The St. Stanislaus bench reacts after a key play vs. St. Martin Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)
Cohen poured in a game-high 21 points to pace the Rocks in the winning effort, while Forte added 10 points and Max Baria chipped in nine points and 10 rebounds.
Simmons scored 17 for St. Martin while R. J. Keys had 12 points.
St. Stanislaus hosts Resurrection Friday afternoon at 3 p.m., while St. Martin travels to Picayune for both boys and girls action Thursday night.
Veteran St. Martin head coach Charlie Pavlus directs traffic vs. St. Stanislaus Tuesday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)
Leave a Reply