Crusaders No Match for Sturgis West Navigators

HYANNIS — John Ryan and Mike Mondello combined for 37 of Sturgis West’s 56 points Thursday afternoon, en route to a 56-43 victory over the visiting Cape Cod Tech Crusaders.

The victory put the Navigators at an even .500 for the season at 5-5, while the Crusaders fell to 2-9.

Cape Cod Tech's Sean Campbell looks for an open man as Strugis West's Konor O'Brien and Sean Glynn shut down the inside route to the basket in yesterday's 56-43 win by West. Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports

Cape Cod Tech’s Sean Campbell looks for an open man as Strugis West’s Konor O’Brien and Sean Glynn shut down the inside route to the basket in yesterday’s 56-43 win by West.
Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports

Ryan used five three-pointers — including three straight in the second quarter — and a pair of field goals to arrive at a game-high 19 points, while also hauling down 11 rebounds for a convincing double-double performance. Mondello turned in 18 first half points and added five rebounds to the cause.

The Crusaders got a double-double performance from Jordan Lewis who sank in 12 points and added 10 rebounds, while teammates Josh Meservey and Sean Campbell each had eight points. Meservey also pulled down 13 rebounds as did Alonzo Johnson. Johnson had four points on the afternoon.

Sturgis West jumped out to a 13-11 lead in the first quarter after the game had been briefly tied at 11-11 and never relinquished that lead again.

The Navigators ramped it up in the second quarter, building a 43-20 halftime lead based largely on an 11-point surge from Ryan and seven points from Mondello. Curtis Merritt’s sole offensive addition in this affair was a downtown three he nailed in the second frame.

The Crusaders did make a valiant attempt at a comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the host Navigators, 15-11, but it was too little, too late. Sturgis West’s defensive play in the fourth quarter finally wore the Crusaders down as the hosts outscored Cape Tech once again, leading to the 56-43 finale.

Shot selection and shooting percentage posed a considerable problem for the Crusaders, as the team cumulatively went 14-65 from the floor (21.53%). Tech went a combined 11-22 from the free throw line and the game would have obviously been tighter had those shots been perfected.

Cape Cod Tech's Jordan Lewis is all over Sturgis West's Mike Mondello in yesterday's high school hoop action at the Hyannis youth and Community Center. Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports

Cape Cod Tech’s Jordan Lewis is all over Sturgis West’s Mike Mondello in yesterday’s high school hoop action at the Hyannis youth and Community Center.
Sean Walsh/capecod.com sports

The Navigators went a combined 23-55 from the floor (41.81%) and went 3-7 from the line. Joshin Noble-Smith hit his only shot of the day while John Russell went 3-5 from the floor for his six points. Sean Glynn also went 3-5 from the floor for Sturgis West, for a total of six points.

Sturgis West hopes to get above .500 today (Friday, Jan. 23) at 4:00 pm on the road at Upper Cape Tech.

The Crusaders hope to get back on the winning track tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 24) at 2:00 pm when the Rising Tide Charter School from Plymouth heads to Harwich.

— Sean Walsh is the sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm.

 

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