AUGUST 22, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
MONARCHS GO 1-2 ON IRELAND TOUR
IRELAND -- The King's College men's basketball team concluded its
overseas trip on the "Enchanting Ireland Tour" with a 1-2 mark in games
against professional teams from that country.
In the team's opener on Friday, the Monarchs dropped a 96-80 verdict to
St. Vincent's Basketball Club thanks to a 22-point effort from former
King's star Brian Horgan, who made the trip to Ireland to try out for
the St. Vincent's squad. The Monarchs got off to a slow start and
trailed 29-14 after the first quarter of play but closed to within 48-38
at the half. In the third quarter, Horgan, who led the Monarchs to the
2005 NCAA Division III "Elite Eight", torched his former teammates for
14 points in the period as St. Vincent's built a 76-55 lead.
King's would outscore St. Vincent's 25-20 over the final period but it
proved to be too little too late as the Monarchs fell to defeat. Junior
Vince Sobocinski led King's with 20 points while sophomore Jamie Cousart
netted 14 points with five rebounds. Sophomore Vince Scalzo added 13
points and five boards while senior Thomas Moore chipped in with eight
points and seven rebounds.
On Saturday, King's squared off with the Waterford basketball Club and
walked away with a 78-57 victory. The Monarchs opened strong, building a
36-23 lead on the strength of 11 points from Scalzo and 10 from
Sobocinski. Waterford would outscore King's 24-19 in the third quarter
to close to within 55-47 enter the final period but the Monarchs turned
up the defense and limited Waterford to just 10 points in the final
frame to earn the victory.
Scalzo and Sobocinski both scored 16 points with six rebounds each while
sophomore Jared Black tossed in 11 points, including three
three-pointers, all in the third period. Sophomore Nate Alcott added 11
points, Jamie Cousart contributed seven points and a team-high 13
rebounds, while sophomore Jim Welsh chipped in with six points.
On Sunday, playing their third game in three days, King's fell to the
Limerick Basketball Club 82-79. The Monarchs trailed 46-36 at the half
as Sobocinski kept the Monarchs in the game with 12 points. In the third
period, Jamie Cousart netted eight points while Scalzo tallied seven to
bring the Monarchs back to within 64-59 leading into the final period.
Limerick would slowly increase its lead and the Monarchs trailed by 10
points with 2:03 left in the contest.
King's would attempt to rally and Nate Alcott's three-pointer drew the
Monarchs to within 81-79 with 0:32 left. After forcing a Limerick
turnover, Alcott launched another three pointer with 0:19 remaining that
would have given the Monarchs the lead but the shot went in-and-out.
King's has one last shot when Sobocinski missed a desperation
three-pointer at the buzzer as Limerick held on for the victory.
Sobocinski netted 19 points for the Monarchs while Cousart and Scalzo
added 13 points each. Alcott and Black chipped in with nine points each.
The Monarchs, however, lost the game at the foul line, converting just
21-of 35 charity tosses. King's also missed on the front end of
one-and-one situations five times in the game.
In their three games, Sobocinski led King's with a 19.0 points per-game
average. Scalzo followed with 14.0 points while Cousart added 11.3
points.
Game Scores
Friday, August 19: St. Vincent's 97 - King's 80
Saturday, August 20: King's 78 - Waterford 57
Sunday, August 21: Limerick 82 - King's 79
