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The 2003 ride to South Carolina was a real yawner, especially when compared to last year's Christmas Day blizzardy
adventure that lasted nearly 12 hours. The 2003 version: get on the bus; get on the plane at Newark's Liberty Airport [even the Level Orange Homeland Security Alert caused hardly a ripple]; get off the plane in
Charlotte; get on another plane; get off the plane 70 minutes later in Charleston; check in the hotel; go to practice at The Citadel; have supper; get ready to play tomorrow vs Porter-Gaud, last year's So. Carolina
State Champ. The highlight of the journey turned out to be bumping into former Pirate guard Brandin Knight [U Pitt] in the airport who was on this way to Ashville NC to continue his work with the NBA development team
there. [The Pirate team sends best wishes to Brandin's dad, Mel '67, undergoing surgery Jan 2 in NJ]
In just the short while the
team has been here in Charleston, the old Southern character of the city is already in evidence. The baggage crew at the airport sported shorts, verandas front many of the old homes, bedecked with moss covered cypress
boughs. The Christmas wreathes on the front doors, with nary another hint of winter in sight, seem slightly out of place.
Andrew Pusar, Pirate junior forward, and 2nd
year varsity player for Seton Hall Prep, is now a regular correspondent during the Hall's visit to the Charleston Red Cross Rotary Roundball Classic. He began his blog [short for "web log"] during Day-1's supper, and finished up his first installment upon return to the hotel. [see photos at bottom, the guy's a gamer!]
For Andrew's blog...>>>
left- by Day 3, Drew's teammates were eager to follow their adventures on the web. |
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• Game 3 action vs No. Charleston
and some closing shots
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DAY 5
The Pirates
shook off their disappointment of last night and came out with a crisply run offensive display in the first quarter, finishing the first stanza with a 20-8 lead. They frittered some of it away in the second, giving up
18 to their own 12. The 3rd quarter saw a No. Charleston zone thrown their way, but the Hall got their shots off effectively, and quickly forced the Cyclones back to man, outscoring southerners 18-9. They traded scores
over the final quarter, and with their 64-48 win took home the third place trophy. |
GAME 3
SHP 64- No. Charleston 48
SHP 20 12 18 14 64
NC 8 18 9 13 48
Pusar- 27 pt 6 rb 3a 3 st
Costner- 17 pt 4 rb
Andrews- 4 pt 7 a 4 st
Pusar selected for All-Tournament Team
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• Game 2 action vs St. John Neumann
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DAY 3-4
Sunday was a day of rest—for SHP and the entire tournament. No games were scheduled, but the team did practice and squeeze in a tour of the city's historic harbor
district. A post-workout "barbie" hosted by Outback Steakhouses capped the meals for the day, then it was a 7 pm return to the hotel for a couple hours of ESPN college basketball and NFL games. Monday would be back to
business.GAME 2- Sorry, but not a pretty sight. The SH Pirates came out hot, taking a healthy 8 point lead early. SJN responded, taking their own 7-point lead into halftime. The second half was a wild affair... SHP
came out 13-5, then the Philly school went on a 22-2 run, pounding the boards and having their way with intense defensive pressure. SHP pulled it to under a dozen at the finish.
SHP plays tomorrow at
7pm vs No. Charleston, the loser by 2 to Don Bosco [28-26 !]. |
GAME 2
SHP 55 - St. John Neumann 66
SHP 21 7 13 14 55
SJN 17 18 17 14 66
Pusar 13 pt
Costner 12 pt, 10 rb
Andrews 10 pt
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• Practice on the arena floor, and a chance to meet "General" and
"Boo," Citadel mascots; Game action vs Porter Gaud.
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DAY 2
Porter-Gaud
returns as So. Carolina State Champion, averaging 75 pts a game coming into last night's tilt vs the Hall. Coach Bob Farrell, in the previous day's practice, had hammered on stopping their transition game and shutting
down their 3-point shooters. [see
Drew's Blog].
With the score tied at 17 after the first quarter, it was plain that the Pirates hadn't
really believed down deep that the coach's plan was the way to go. But an 18-10 2nd quarter showed signs of a change of heart on the part of the Pirates. Then, a 30 point 3rd quarter [one of the best in recent SHP
history] became the coup de gras that put away the So. Carolina school for good. The defensive intensity by the Hall was more than the Cyclones could deal with– pressure on their ball-handlers resulted in steals and
transition goals for the Pirates. Pusar set up shop in the paint, with 27 points with not a single jumper.
SHP faces St. John Neuman [Philadelphia] at 7 pm Monday. |
GAME 1
SHP 84 -Porter Gaud 59
SHP 17 18 30 19 84
PG 17 10 15 17 59
Pusar 27 pts, 7 rb, 9 a
Costner 13 pts, 13 rb, 4 a
Andrews 9 pts, 8 a, 4 s
Braswell 11 pts, 3 s
SHP plays St. John Neumann
Monday @ 7pm
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below- The arena, all to themselves |
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DAY 1 |
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•Our Pirate correspondent gets down to business; Former Prep start Brandin Knight shows
up on our flight out of Newark; arriving in Charleston; practice at the Citadel; late supper; finishing touches on episode one.
[photos by RCM]
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