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Freedom Falls in Hulton Consolation Game

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 1, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - Every time Freedom made a run at St. Petersburg Catholic in the consolation finals of the Hulton Ram Classic at Ridgewood on Wednesday, the Barons had an answer.

The result was a 63-59 win for St. Petersburg Catholic to claim third place in the tourney.

After a 15-15 tie through one period, the Barons scored the first six points of the second quarter and looked like they were on their way to an easy victory. But the Patriots just wouldn't go away quietly. They cut the lead to 28-27 with 2:09 remaining in the half but got outscored 7-2 before the half ended and trailed 35-29.

Freedom (4-8) battled back to start the third quarter and when Dionte Christopher hit a goal with 7:25 in the final quarter, the Patriots had tied the score 41-41. Christopher could have given Freedom the lead for the first time since the opening quarter but missed the free throw at the end of a 3-point play attempt.

St. Petersburg Catholic (6-7) regained the lead by converting 6 of 8 free throws and led 50-43 with 5:22 remaining. But two consecutive 3-point goals by Jake Kehlenbeck quickly cut the Barons lead to 50-49 with 3:35 left.

That was the last time Freedom would get close. SPC hit 7 of 10 free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

Despite the close loss, Patriots coach Randy Grenon was not happy after the game. He spent about 15 minutes after the game in the locker room explaining to his players his displeasure with their performance.

"I don't know what happened," Grenon said. "For the first time this year, we didn't play with any effort. Three games in three days is not an excuse. These are 17-year-old kids. That can play three games in one day if they want."

St. Petersburg Catholic coach Mike Moran wasn't especially happy with his team's performance either.

"Kind of a lackluster performance," Moran said. "We certainly didn't play well enough to beat good teams."

The Barons' Matt O'Donnell led all scorers with 22 points, including 5 3-point goals, and was named to the all-tournament team, as was Anthony Miles. Brendon Bertorello and Jordan Duval led the Patriots with 13 each. Bertorello was Freedom's only all-tournament team representive.

ST. PETERSBURG CATHOLIC (63) – Williams 2 5-8 9, Miles 2 2-4 8, Carver 0 3-4 3, McKay 2 0-0 4, Foreman 2 0-0 4, O'Donnell 7 3-4 22, Cunningham 1 0-0 2, Dudley 2 1-5 5, Flanagan 2 2-3 6. Totals 20 16-28 63.
FREEDOM (59) – Christopher 2 0-1 4, Bertorello 5 1-3 13, Duval 4 4-4 13, Kehlenbeck 3 3-6 11, Guest 1 0-0 2, Alston 4 0-1 8, Gaddy 3 2-3 8. Totals 22 10-16 59.

SPC 15 20 6 22 – 63
Freedom 15 14 10 20 – 59

3-point goals – O'Donnell 5, Miles 2 (S); Bertorello 2, Kehlenbeck 2, Duval (F). Total fould – S 13, F 16. Fouled out – none. Technical foul – Alston (F). Records – S 6-7, F 4-8.

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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