Kehler on Hoops:LaSalle College defeats Archbishop Ryan 57-55

Written by: Dell Jackson on February 14, 2022

LASALLE COLLEGE DEFEATS ARCHBISHOP RYAN 57-55

Host LaSalle College overcame a 16 point third quarter deficit to defeat Archbishop Ryan 57-55 on Sunday afternoon in the regular season finale for both Philadelphia Catholic League teams. Archbishop Ryan led for most of the game but faltered down the stretch as LaSalle hit both boards hard in the second half.

After a see saw first quarter, 6′ 9″ Ryan sophomore Thomas Sorber went to the bench with three fouls early in the second frame. All three of the fouls called on Sorber were questionable. However, Ryan rose to the occasion. Trailing 15-14, Ryan went on an 11-4 run in the middle of the second quarter. Down 26-18, LaSalle responded with two free throws by 6′ 2″ senior Nix Varano and a drive by Varano. Then, Ryan went on a 9-0 run consisting of a jumper by 6′ 4″ sophomore Darren Williams, a fast break layup by Williams, a three pointer by 5′ 11″ junior Michael Paris, and a couple of free throws by 6′ 6″ sophomore Jaden Murray, who had been substituted into the game for Sorber. That gave Ryan a 35-22 lead. A three pointer at the buzzer by 6′ 1″ senior Luke Boyd put Ryan ahead 38-25 at halftime. In the second quarter, Ryan committed only one turnover, while LaSalle’s five turnovers in the second frame were a major reason for Ryan’s surge.

Things got worse for LaSalle at the beginning of the third quarter, as Ryan sharpshooter Boyd opened the scoring with his second three pointer of the game, giving Ryan a 41-25 lead. Then, Ryan, who had committed only two turnovers in the first half, began to have ball security problems. Ryan had four turnovers in the third quarter, and they fueled a 14-0 LaSalle run consisting of a drive by 6′ 2″ senior Sam Brown, a free throw by Brown, a pivot move by Brown, a three pointer by Brown, a jumper by 6′ 6″ junior Horace Simmons, a free throw by Varano, and a three pointer by Simmons. That cut Ryan’s once formidable lead to 41-39, and the game was close the rest of the way. Before the third quarter was over, LaSalle briefly captured the lead, 44-43, on a hoop by 6′ 8″ junior Caleb Bryant, and the score was tied at 46 at the end of three quarters.

Ryan’s Luke Boyd opened the scoring in the final frame with a backdoor layup, and a couple of Sorber free throws gave the visitors a 50-46 lead. With a bit more than two minutes left in the game, a basket inside by Williams extended Ryan’s lead to 55-49. LaSalle responded with a free throw by Brown and a putback by Simmons following his own miss, cutting Ryan’s lead to 55-52. With 1:01 left, Varano hit a clutch three pointer knotting the score at 55. With three seconds left, Varano stole the ball and was immediately fouled. Varano hit two free throws for the win. LaSalle out rebounded Ryan 14 to seven in the second half, and Ryan did not have an offensive rebound in the last 16 minutes of the game.

For the game, LaSalle decisively out rebounded Ryan 32 to 19. LaSalle had 12 turnovers, and Ryan had eight. LaSalle was 12 of 20 from the stripe, and Ryan was 12 of 15. LaSalle made five three pointers, and Ryan made seven shots from beyond the arc> There were six ties and seven lead changes.

LaSalle College scoring: Nix Varano 21, Sam Brown 17, Horace Simmons 11, Ryan Sorge 3, Caleb Bryant 3, and Chris Williams 2.

Archbishop Ryan scoring: Darren Williams 14, Luke Boyd 13, Michael Paris 12, Thomas Sorber 8, Jaden Murray 4, David Wise 2, and Jalen Snead 2.

Archbishop Ryan 14 24 8 9-55
LaSalle College 12 13 21 11-57

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