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St. John's Stays Hot

O'Brian's Defense is Key in Win

Defense Sparks St. John's Victory
June 26, 2012 At Saugus High School, took on Saugus in a rematch of their season opener. It was defense that sparked the win this time as St. John's held Saugus to just 12 first half points and left nothing in doubt as they rolled to a 50-37 win.

Travis Thurman got things going with a 3-pointer to open the game. But Saugus went on a 5-1 run to retake the lead. Bailey Kennedy would take the lead back with a basket off an offensive rebound with 11:23 left. After a made Saugus free throw, St. John's went on a 7 point run led by back to back baskets by Brian Jean-Francois and then a conventional 3-point play by Nick Scibelli. After Saugus cut the lead back to four, Kennedy drained a 3-pointer and by the time Colin O'Brian scored off an offensive putback, St. John's had extended the lead to double digits at 20-9. St. John's would score the final six points of the half to lead 26-12.

Saugus couldn't seem to cut into the lead early in the second half. Travis Thurman hit a 3-pointer and then fed Jean-Francois to make it 38-23 with 11:26 left in the game. But the Sachems weren't through yet. They got the lead back down to single digits until a Thurman drive made it 44-33 at the 5:49 mark. Owen O'Brien put the game away with a big basket with 1:45 left to make it 48-35 and St. John's held on from there.

Brian Jean-Francois had a big game with a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds. Nick Scibelli had a great all-around game with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 sssists as St. John's improved to 2-0.

July 10, 2012 At Saugus High School, St. John's took on Saugus II. St. John's trailed early before rallying to tie the game at the half and then pulled away for the win.

Saugus opened the game with a 7-0 run to put St. John's in an early hole. Travis Thurman got them on the board with a 3-pointer at the 16:20 mark of the first half. After a Saugus basket, Nick Scibelli grabbed an offensive board and put it in to keep the lead within four. Trailing by six, Donnie Weisse drained a 3-pointer with 7:27 left to make it 13-10. After another Saugus basket, St. John's finally went on a run. Brian Jean-Francois scored on a drive to the hoop and then Thurman countered with a jumper to pull St. John's within one point at 15-14. After another Sachem basket, Thurman countered with another 3-pointer to tie the game with 2:07 left in the half. St. John's finally took the lead with 37 seconds left on a Nick Scibelli hoop off a nice feed from Alex Cormier. A late hoop sent the game into the half deadlocked at 19.

The lead went back and forth early in the second half. Chris Thomsen scored off an offensive rebound to give St. John's a 23-21 lead. Saugus would tie it again before Donnie Weisse would give St. John's the lead for good with a 3-pointer at the 16:01 mark to make it 26-23. Owen O'Brien extended the lead to four at 31-27 which started a run of seven straight points to put the game away. St. John's cruised from there for the 46-36 win.

Travis Thurman led St. John's with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Donnie Weisse added 11 points and Colin O'Brian had a big defensive game to go along with eight rebounds and two assists as St. John's remained undefeated.

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Templeman Steals Victory
June 26, 2012 At Saugus High School, the St. John's Bantams took on Danvers. St. John's trailed early before opening up a lead. A late Falcon surge was extinguished by a late defensive steal by Graham Templeman with 20 seconds left to seal the win 24-20.

Max Pegnato opened the game with a quick basket for an early St. John's lead. But Danvers came roaring back with eight straight points to take an 8-2 lead. But St. John's would slowly whittle away at the lead. Graham Templeman made two free throws to cut the lead in half. Pegnato followed with another hoop and them fed Jake Goldman for a basket to even the game with 8:15 left in the half. Simon Keough gave St. John's its first lead just 30 seconds later off a nice pass from Brendan Laundry. With time winding down in the half, Ben Turner scored on an offensive put back to make it 16-10 in favor of St. John's.

St. John's scored the first six points of the second half to take a 22-10 lead but there was still over 13 minutes left. From there, St. John's went on a scoring drought lasting over 10 minutes until Cole Cassidy scored to make it 24-16 with 3:08 remaining in the game. But Danvers clamped down and cut the lead to 24-20 and had possesion looking to make it a lead of a single basket. With 20 seconds left, Graham Templeman made the play of the game with a steal of a Danvers pass. St. John's then ran out the clock to hold on for a 24-20 win.

Max Pegnato led the St. John's scoring with 6 points. One of the smallest players on the floor, Brendan Laundry, led St. John's with 7 rebounds for their first victory of the summer.

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