By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
In the second half of its non-conference contest against Tomahawk Tuesday night, the Pacelli High boys basketball team went back to what has brought success the past few weeks.
After entering the third quarter trailing 21-20, the Cardinals moved the ball around and got some easy baskets as Pacelli went on to top the Hatchets 50-42.
"I thought in the first half we played terribly on the offensive end," Pacelli coach Steve Newcomer said. "In the locker room at halftime, we kind of gave it to them. I told them we have to go back to playing team basketball and that means moving the ball around."
The Cardinals didn't waste any time going into the post in the third quarter and Jim Czlapinski scored three straight hoops in a 6-0 run. In the meantime, Pacelli's defense clamped down on Tomahawk, holding to Hatchets scoreless for the first 5:10 of the quarter. Tomahawk didn't score a field goal until Andy Deitz hit a jumper 42 seconds later.
"We came out in the second half and took off our press," Newcomer said. "I thought we were better playing that team in the half court and making guards beat us from outside.
"We were really concerned with their inside play."
A Clint Richardson jumper a minute later cut Pacelli's lead to 28-27 and the Cardinals took a timeout. Josh Owens answered with a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left and then the two teams traded hoops, resulting in a 33-29 Pacelli lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals opened the final period with a 5-2 spurt on a Nate Swenson drive and another Owens 3-pointer. That opened a seven point, 38-31, advantage with 4:47 to go. The Hatchets battled back with a 6-2 run to close Pacelli's lead to three with 1:31 remaining. But the Cardinals hit their free throws down the stretch, connecting on all eight of their attempts while Tomahawk drew nothing but iron and missed its two shots from the charity stripe.
"Anytime you have a close basketball game, free throws are important. I thought we did a decent job, but they helped us," Newcomer said.
Owens and Czlapinski teamed to pace Pacelli with 16 points each. Czlapinski hit 7-of-10 shots from the field. 6-foot-4 post player Eugene Janeczko led the Hatchets with 12 points. Richardson and Sean Duncan both added nine.
The Cardinals also outrebounded the taller Tomahawk team, 28-25. Swenson grabbed eight while Kramer and Kyle Corrigan each had seven boards.
"I didn't think we did a very good job (rebounding) in the first half. I thought in the second half we did a better job."
With the win, Pacelli improved to 5-8 overall while Tomahawk lost for only the second time this season (9-2). Tomahawk's first loss came to defending state champion Park Falls.
"We're playing well now," Newcomer said. "We've won five out of the last eight and two of those losses were in overtime."