RallyNorth.net

Opening night: Newburyport's Clancy sinks Triton

Tuesday, December, 11 By John Shimer
Staff writer

NEWBURYPORT | Down a 3-pointer at halftime of last night's season opener against Triton, Newburyport coach Tom L'Italien knew he needed to change his game plan.

The power inside game wasn't working.

Insert junior guard Joe Clancy.

Clancy proved to be the answer in the second half of the Clippers' 54-45 victory at Newburyport High.

The slashing guard showed his range, drilling 3-pointers over smaller defenders during a 16-4 run to open the second half, and the Clippers never looked back.

Foul trouble was also a prominent factor in the Vikings' demise as senior center Jimmy Dure was forced to sit out most of the second half with four fouls. That eventually hurt Triton on both sides of the ball.

Too often the offense was one shot and done, and on the other end Clippers big man Chris Barry was able to power his way in the post for nine fourth-quarter points.

"We re-emphasized the game-plan at halftime, and our big five of Richie Burke, Sam Melanson, Chris (Barry), Ben Brink, and Joe (Clancy) showed us the way," said Newburyport coach Tom L'Italien. "We had talked about playing well at home before the season, and it was nice to do that tonight."

After the game Triton coach Tim Connell said Clancy really changed the complexion of the game.

"We really did a great job on defense in the first half holding them to only 20 points, but Clancy just came out in the second half and gave them some confidence shooting the ball," Connell said. "From that point on, they outworked us on the court, creating nice sets on offense, and getting far too many inside shots."

Before Dure's foul woes, the focus of the Clipper defense, Triton senior forward Kyle Devenish, was able to take advantage of the situation, contributing nine points. However, neither team was able to impose its will as the two teams combined for 14 ties or lead changes, and the biggest lead at any point was Triton's 16-12 edge.

The second half was a different story, though, as each team was able to make runs. With the Clippers on top 36-27, Triton's Joe Katin hit four mid-range jumpers in a 12-4 Vikings' spurt to close the Newburyport lead to 40-39.

Looking like they might collapse, the Clippers never would relinquish the lead as both Barry and Brink continuously attacked the lane vacant of any Triton inside presence to stop them. A final 14-6 spurt by the Clippers closed out the Vikes by the final nine point margin of victory.

"When we made the run late in the second half, we were doing the right things, and I thought we might catch them," Connell said. "Unfortunately our inexperience showed through, and we weren't able to get the ball to our athletes to make our offense click."

In the end, Brink paced the Clippers, spreading out 14 over all four quarters, joined in double figures by both Clancy's 13 points, and Barry's 12. Katin led all scorers for the Vikes with 18, while Devenish, who was forced to leave the game early after taking an elbow to the jaw, chipped in with 13 points.