Comets rally past Riverside again, 59-46
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 2, 2001
Michael Kiral
RESERVE – For the second time in just over a week, St. Charles Catholic overcame a double-digit deficit against Riverside to defeat the Rebels, 59- 46, in the third-place game of the Riverside Tournament Friday night. St. Charles Catholic improved to 15-6 on the season while Riverside fell to 7- 7.
Daress Nicholas scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Comets. Alton Alexander added 19 points. Mike Mustian scored nine points and was named to the all-tournament team.
Craig Tearney made the all-tournament team from Riverside after scoring 20 points. Scottey Manson contributed 12 points and Damian Melancon five. Riverside rallied from an early 5-2 deficit to take a 15-5 lead in the first quarter. Tearney led the way with three 3-pointers and Manson added two layups and a put back. A jumper by Michael Bonura cut the lead to 15-7 at the end of the quarter.
Riverside maintained its lead early in the second quarter as Manson drove the lane, then took a bounce pass from Melancon to make it 19-10. On the Comets next possession, Bonura found Alexander underneath to cut the deficit to seven. Nicholas followed with 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to cut the deficit to 19-18.
Shawn Klibert scored off a pass by Melancon to build the lead back to three. But Nicholas answered on the next trip down the court with a jumper. The Comets then took the lead at 23-21 as Alexander converted a three-point play off a put back with 1:52 remaining in the half.
A 3-pointer by Tearney regained the lead for the Rebels. But with the clock ticking down, Bonura drove the lane and dropped a pass to Alexander underneath, giving the Comets a 26-25 lead at the break.
St. Charles Catholic built a 35-27 lead early in the third as Alexander and Aaron Johnson scored off passes by Bonura and Mustian. A pass from Michael Schoen to Tearney inside cut the deficit to 39-33 but Nicholas answered with a 3-pointer for a nine-point lead. Tearneys jumper from the left side cut the deficit to 42-35 heading into the fourth quarter.
That lead grew to 50-35 with 5:16 left as Mustian buried 3-pointers from the right corner on consecutive possessions. Riverside pulled back to within nine on 3-pointers by Melancon and Schoen. But the Comets again pulled away as Nicholas hit a jumper and Alexander scored off a pass by Mustian.
St. Charles Catholic opened the tournament with a win over Ridgewood before falling to West St. John in the semifinals. Riverside defeated Crescent City before losing to St. James.
Riverside hosts Buras tonight while the Comets travel to Pearl River Friday.
