RallyNorth.net

Royals narrowly avoid upset

Tuesday, February, 26 By Evan Mugford
Staff writer

If stats and records indicate anything, last night's opening-round Division 4 North contest should have been a blowout.

However, in a game with a mere two lead changes, the battle between No. 3 Georgetown and Tyngsboro, which earned the 14th and last berth with a 5-15 record, was anything but a lopsided affair.

Thanks to hustle, timely rebounding and some stifling defense, the Royals found a way to pull out the victory, 55-50, over a Tiger squad that didn't want to leave the tournament quietly.

"It was a hard-fought win, and you have to give credit where credit is due," said Royals coach Mike Rowinski, whose club improved to 13-7. "Tyngsboro shot the ball very well, and basically, they came in to our gym and gave us all they had."

Georgetown's freshman hotshot Jaymie Spears (25 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists) grabbed five first-quarter rebounds as the hosts took a 14-7 lead after the first quarter.

If the first quarter didn't prove that this was indeed a tournament game, then the second hammered the message home. The Tigers, who play much bigger schools in the Dual County League, took their only lead of the game at the 2:31 mark, 19-18. Junior guard Joe Esposito (5 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists) and hustling junior forward Kyle McKay made major contributions as the Royals regained the lead, 26-24, at the half.

Rowinski wasn't pleased at the break.

"We talked about a few things before the game," he explained. "We didn't want to play around the perimeter, we didn't want to leave it in Spears' hands, and we didn't want to let them get to the free-throw line early. All three of those things came true."

Georgetown sophomore forward-center Julio Colon (11 points), who was quiet in the first half, heated up but it was still just 39-36 after three quarters.

With the game up-for-grabs, Spears hit a bundle of free throws and senior captain Tim Holland's (10 points, 6 rebounds) energy pulled it out.

"Tonight's game wasn't our best, but through some real desire, we found a way to survive," said Rowinski.