RallyNorth.net

Tue, Dec 18, 2007 06:30 PM @ Rockport

Team	1	2	3	4	Final
Manchester Essex	17	14	23	18	72
Rockport	16	11	20	13	60

Nally, Settipane lead Hornets past Vikings

Wednesday, December, 19 By Matt Langone
Sports editor

According to Manchester Essex boys basketball head coach Bill Cahill, the recipe for Hornets success is simple.

"Marty Nally and James Settipane are both three-year varsity starters," said Cahill after last night's game at rival Rockport. "If they play well, we'll play well."

The statement seems almost too cut and dry, but based on last night's outcome, it's very accurate.

Led by Nally's game-high 23 points and Settipane's 14, the Hornets knocked off the Vikings, 72-60, to capture their first win and improve their record to 1-2. In the previous two games, the backcourt duo of Nally and Settipane were held to just an average of 12 points and 9.5 points respectively. Thus, last night's performance could be filed as their breakthrough game in the young season.

"This is the best game that both of us have played together so far," said Nally, who drilled two 3-pointers. "But we're looking forward to getting better and building off this."

Manchester Essex won every quarter of the game, but the lead was never able to swell to a significant amount until the fourth quarter, which was symbolic of the way that Nally and Settipane played. The co-captains had a huge second half, as Nally erupted for 16 of his points in the final 16 minutes and Settipane had 10.

When the shots weren't falling for the Hornets in the first half, they used a full-court press to disrupt the flow of the Rockport offense. The press was especially effective because it forced the ball out of the hands of Vikings senior point guard Cory Emerson. However, Emerson still had a fine night with a team-18 points (four 3-pointers) and seven rebounds, but had to work for everything he got. Meanwhile, junior Kyle Donovan (11 points) hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half to help the Hornet maintain a lead.

"I think the key to this game was that Manchester Essex played in control the whole game," said Rockport head coach Tim St. Laurent. "They made the shots when they had two." The Vikings, who aren't a particularly tall team, were also hurt in the rebounding category. Juniors Dave Campbell (12 points, six rebounds) and Mike Akers (16 points, six rebounds) did their best to box out Manchester Essex sophomore Brian Ciccone. But the 6-foot-3 center grabbed 12 rebounds to go with his nine points and created several second-chance opportunities for the Hornets.

Aside from the height difference, St. Laurent credited Nally and Settipane for contributing to the Vikings struggles on the boards.

"I thought we defended well," said St. Laurent. "But when you have two players like Settipane and Nally taking shots, our guys have to focus on help defense first because those players are so good."

Akers had 12 of his points in the first half to keep the Vikings within four points (31-27) at the break. But a scoring drought that lasted for nearly the first four minutes of the third quarter caused Rockport to play catch-up for the entire second half.

The Vikings cut the lead to five (58-53) with 5:57 left in the game, but the Hornets outscored Rockport 14-7 the rest of the way. During that span, freshman Joe Mussachia (10 points) had a big bucket, while Nally and Settipane did most of the damage.

"We didn't shoot the ball real well," said Cahill. "But when we had to, we did. The kids worked hard and played hard, and it was good to get the win."

The win was especially satisfying for Manchester Essex because the team was short-handed due to injuries suffered by senior forwards Ian Graham (stitches to face) and Andrew Willwerth (sprained ankle).