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Pelham continues run

Host Sanborn provided a stiff challenge Friday night but Pelham showed that it's more relading than rebuilding.

The Pythons, who graduated six seniors including Eagle-Tribune All-Stars Drew Brown and Derek Crowley from last year's 17-5 squad, improved to 5-0 with a 59-57 victory.

Zach Jones, who committed to Norwich this week for football, led the way with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks while freshman Dom Herrling scored 17 in his first start as a replacement for Jake McGlinchey. Jake Dumont added 12.

Pelham got off to a quick start and led 22-11 after the first quarter but Sanborn clawed back and led by a point late before Jones tok over, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter.

"Zach has played the same tough defense and rebounded for us as he did last year but he's really taken a step forward offensively," said Pelham coach Mike Larson. "We lost some great players from last year but having a three-year starter like Zach returning really helps."

Jones is averaging nearly 16 points a game, which is an improvement of about 10 from last year and about the same as Dumont, who is the other returning starter.

"We're actually still feeling our way offensively but our defense and rebounding has carried us," said Larson. "But Sanborn is a tough team. That wasn't easy.

"We're happy with the way things have gone but we'll find out more about ourselves in the next two weeks with games against Hollis-Brookline and Con-Val. Both are very good teams."

Sanborn (3-2) was led by senior Dylan Khalil with 20 points while Jason Allen added 13 and brother Jared Khalil chipped in with 12. The Indians sank 10 3-pointers.

"We played pretty well, at least for three quarters, but Pelham is a good team and we had trouble handling their size," said Sanborn coach Bob Ficker. "And that first quarter was tough to come back from. We came out flat.

"We try to wear teams down with our speed and quickness. We tend to wear teams down in the fourth quarter and that's when we made our run tonight. But we couldn't handle their big guy (Jones)."