Bennett Center crowd celebrates Gordon win over Roger Williams
(Wenham) Roger Williams did a pretty good job of taking away Gordon’s inside game – Hans Miersma six points, Jason Dempsey two points.
Luke Hamilton (16 points) is 18-for-23 from long range over the last five games
But that good interior defense left openings elsewhere and the Scots “elsewhere” players were on from beginning to end and the home team never trailed.
All that great offense enabled Gordon (20-6) to defeat Roger Williams, 81-59, before a big crowd on Tuesday night to advance to the Commonwealth Coast Conference semi-finals against Wentworth on Thursday at the Bennett Center.
The Scots have now won eight straight and thirteen of their last fourteen. To say that this team is rolling, may be an understatement!
Six players reached double figures for the Scots against Roger Williams led by David Dempsey (20 points). David was named to the CCC first team today.
Gordon had nine three’s in the game. Luke Hamilton (16 points) had three of them in the first 5 ½ minutes as the Scots bolted to a quick, 17-4, start.
Ryan Palumbo (20 points) on breakaway after a steal
The Hawks (10-16) cut the lead to four in the first half (19-15) and in the second half (41-37) led by Ryan Palumbo (20 points), Adam Cook (15 points), and Mike Engelmann (12 points).
But the Gordon offense was never shut down for very long. The #2 seed shot over 50% for the game and was a very warm 9-for-17 from long range. The Scots were 6-for-6 from beyond the arc in the second half.
After the Hawks closed to 41-37, Gordon put a 10-2 segment together over the next 3 ½ minutes and stretched their advantage to twelve (51-39) with 13:09 to go. The visitors from Bristol (RI) were never able to get inside double-figures the rest of the way.
That decisive 10-2 run featured three’s by Park Thomas (16 points) and Taylor Bajema (10 points) plus a layup and jump shot from David Dempsey.
Taylor Bajema (ten points and five rebounds in the second half)
Park and Taylor were huge in the second half. Park had all of his points (16) in the second half as well as five assists. Taylor scored all of his points (10) after the break and added five rebounds.
Park had a season-high nine assists.
Luke Hamilton’s sixteen points are a season high for him. His long-range shooting (18-for-23) has been unbelievable over the last five games.
The best matchup to watch was at the point guard position where sophomore Ryan Palumbo and Park Thomas operate. Both players earned honorable mention when the CCC All-League teams were announced today.
Top Five Players in this game in efficiency:
David Dempsey +24
Ryan Palumbo +21
Luke Hamilton +19
Park Thomas +18
Alex Carnes +16
Adam Cook +16
Team stats for this game in efficiency:
Gordon +115
Roger Williams +51
Efficiency is arrived at by subtracting the bad stats (missed field goals, missed free throws, turnovers) from the good stats (rebounds, points, assists, blocks, steals).
Hans Miersma was named the Defensive Player of the Year by the CCC and landed on the All-League second team. Hans had plenty of blocks during the season. His 6-9 presence in the lane has turned more than a few drivers into passers or outside shooters.
David Dempsey (20 points and eight rebounds)
The advance to the semi-finals is an improvement from the last two seasons when the Scots bowed out in the first round. Thursday night’s opponent, Wentworth, did it to Gordon last year.
Curry and Eastern Nazarene get together in the other semi-final matchup. Is it too much to hope for a Gordon/Eastern Nazarene battle for the CCC title on Saturday afternoon at the Bennett Center? Thought so, let’s just concentrate on Wentworth on Thursday night.
(All of the pictures enlarge if you click on them.)
Hans Miersma (CCC Defensive Player of the Year) blocks the shot of Mike Engemann
Ryan Palumbo (20 points) and Park Thomas (16 points and 9 assists)
looking for a rebound
Alex Carnes (11 points) trapped by two RW defenders
David Dempsey in for two
