Wentworth knocks Gordon out of the tournament 82-75

Shot in the air as well as several players

Sam Knollmeyer gets two

(Wenham MA) Wentworth dictated the tempo and defeated Gordon, 82-75, on Tuesday night.

The loss in the Commonwealth Coast Conference tournament’s first round ends the season for the (15-11) Scots.

The Leopards (14-12) went on a 12-2 run in the last five minutes of the first half to gain a 38-28 advantage at halftime.

The Scots rode the wave of the best crowd of the season and came all the way back to a 59-59 tie with 5:33 remaining. An old-fashioned three by Josh Ribeiro was the tie enabler.

Plenty of time for good things to happen for the home team.

But those good things didn’t happen in the all-important next minute. Dan DeVaux drained a three and was fouled. Dan made the freebie and three more WIT free throws followed. In that one minute the Leopards raced ahead, 66-59, to gain separation.

Jake Hart ahead of the defense

The thing that impresses me when I watch Wentworth is their ability to get high-percentage shots on so many of their possessions. Their last game versus Gordon was lost because their shots weren’t falling but even in that loss many of the shots taken were high-percentage.

The Scots, on the other hand, often settled for the first open look outside, which were rare, or looked inside. Gordon’s inside was contested but single defenders get overpowered by Sam Johnson/Garrisson Duvivier.

Gordon’s 3-point shooting tanked out in the final two games to the tune of 4-for-18. The Scots must find ways to get more open looks on the perimeter.

Sam Johnson covered by Stephen Azums

The inside game has been consistently good and was again tonight. Wentworth’s tight defense on the arc opened things up and Garrisson Duvivier was able to finish his sophomore season with a season-high thirty-three points.

Sam Johnson finished his season and career on a double-double note – 13 points and 10 rebounds. Seventeenth time Sam has had the twin doubles this season.

Replacing Sam next year will not be possible. My next Gordon event, Lord willing, will be Sam’s graduation in May.

Efficiency

Garrisson Duvivier 31

Sam Johnson 23

Stephen Azum 18 (10 points, 10 rebounds)

Dan DeVaux 14 (13 points)

Wentworth 89

Gordon 84

Box from the game.

(All pictures enlarge considerably if you click on them.)