ofa downs malone in basketball
OFA Basketball Coach Mark Henry was concerned about a fatigue factor, on Friday, as his team prepared to play Malone in Central Division action just one night after an intense 60-56 loss at Massena.
And the fatigue factor materialized in the final three minutes after a three-pointer by Breton LaRose gave the Devils (12-4, 5-2 NAC) a 59-48 lead.
Led by Mitch Gallager and Jon Dunlavey, the Huskies (8-8, 1-6 Central) put the offensive boards under seige and managed to cut the difference to 66-61 with 1:02 to play. The Devils settled the issue with key free throws by Matt Pierce and Kinnon LaRose who also snatched a steal with 18 seconds remaining in OFA’s 68-62 win.
The OFA Wrestlers were unable to gain a rebound win as they dropped a 51-18 decision at home against Canton while the skating Blue Devils registered their fifth straight win downing Watertwn IHC 6-1 in the first round of the Thousand Islands Tournament.
BOYS BASKETBALL
“We were a little tired at the end. Malone really attacked the glass and Mitchell Gallagher is just a tremendous player for them. Breton LaRose hit some big threes in the fourth quarter and played an outstanding game with 30 points,” said Coach Henry,
“For most of the game we rebounded very well well and it was a very nice effort overall. Last night we did what we wanted to against Massena but we just missed some key shots.”
Breton LaRose (3 steals), who buried six threes on the night, also grabbed eight rebounds with six on the offensive boards while his brother Kinnon finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Pat Cosmo and Piercey (5 steals, 3 assists) each finished with 13 points and Colin Ross (two points) added three steals for the Devils who will host Brushton-Moira in their Senior Night game on Tuesday.
Jon Dunlavey, Gallagher and Austin Dunlavey led Malone with 15, 14 and 12 points and Nate Monette netted 10.
The OFA JVs won a 46-45 thriller to tie Malone for the Central Division lead. The Devils used a 12-5 third quarter advantage to surge into contention and prevail in the closing seconds as a blocked shot by Al Fisher led to Tristan Moore drawing a foul on a fast break with three seconds to play.
Moore made the second of two free throws to give Coach Mike Sargent’s team the 46-45 win.
The game’s climax also saw Seth Pinkerton and Jon Rogers bury three-pointers which tied the score. Conor Hannan and Jack Manke combined for 12 and 10 points in the win and Rogers finished with nine. Fisher and Moore each tallied six points and Austin LaMay led the Huskies with a game-high 16 points.
WRESTLING
The visiting Golden Bears strung together five straight wins after OFA’s Bailey Phelps (145) secured a well-wrestled 4-2 win over Hans Kuno in the opening bout.
“Canton is a very tough matchup for us and we had three guys out with injuries tonight so we couldn’t move people around,” said OFA Coach Bill Mitchell who lost another performer when 99-pounder Tanner LaPiene was forced to withdraw against Canton’s Ryan Brown because of a wrist injury.
OFA’s other wins on the night came from Nate Sarkin who gained a pin over Gabe Latimer at 285 pounds, Hayden LaRock who decisioned Jon Fetchie 12-7 at 106 pounds and Nate Murdock who pinned Alex Dean in the final minute of the 138-pound match.
Canton’s effort featured pins by Eb Foote (160), Thomas Lumbard (170), Jacob Moose (195), Cody Bond (126) and forfeits to Jared Cakinette (182) and Adam Weidner (220).
Recording decisions were Cody Dominque, who outscored Cody Davis 16-5, and Curtis Barney (132) who downed Josh Wangler 16-1.
NOTE: The OFA Wrestlers and the Ogdensburg Youth Wrestling Association will hold a bottle drive on Sunday beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wrestlers and participating parents will meet at the parking lot of the redemption center near Ogdensburg Pepsi.
BOYS HOCKEY
CLAYTON - The number 12 state-ranked OFA Hockey team (11-4) recorded its fifth straight win downing Watertown IHC (4-12-2) 6-1 in the first round of the Thousand Islands Tournament.
“We just have to keep bringing it every game,” said Coach Jon Frederick looking ahead to today’s championship game against Norwood-Norfolk, which downed the host Islanders 4-1, and to Tuesday’s NAC Division II showdown at Salmon River.
Dustin Harper provided an offensive spark for the Devils figuring in the first three goals of the game. He scored from Drew Hilborne and Joe Giglio and combined with Brandon Mullin to set up a Drew Hilborne goal the first period. In the second period Harper and Mullin set up a Drew Costigan goal and Jon Tayler scored from Giglio before Joe LaFex of IHC netted the only goal allowed by OFA’s Andrew LeBeau who finished with 10 saves.
Taylor netted his second goal to close out the second period as Harper picked up his third assist and Hilborne supplied his second setup. Costigan netted his second goal to close out the scoring unasssted.
