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HOLY CROSS Team Report

By The Sports Xchange
1/25/2006
 
GETTING INSIDE

It's safe to say that, barring a trip through the NCAA Tournament, Holy Cross won't play tougher back-to-back games than the recent contests against Bucknell and Boston College.

Both games resulted in losses for the Crusaders, but the team seems prepared to come together at the right time.

Holy Cross put up a fight against Boston College before falling 63-53. The team defense was tight and limited BC to 34.5 percent shooting in the second half. The weak spot for the Crusaders was the bench. Holy Cross is thin this year, with most of the scoring burden falling on the backcourt. The Boston College reserves outscored the Holy Cross bench 21-11.

The results were better against American, as Ralph Willard got better contributions from his role players in a 74-63 win. Sophomore center Tim Clifford scored a career-high 27 points after getting a surprise start.

Now that the strength of schedule levels off, expect the Crusaders to start stockpiling wins, eventually finishing either second or third in the Patriot League standings.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Center Tim Clifford, a sophomore, started in place of Kevin Hyland against American and scored a career-high 27 points.

--Clifford went 9-for-15 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also tossed in a 3-pointer and grabbed four rebounds.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Tim has been playing well in practice and with a great deal of energy and more confidence than he did earlier in the year." -- Coach Ralph Willard, explaining why he started Tim Clifford against American. Clifford scored a career-high 27 points in the win.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Holy Cross has been looking for an inside presence all season. If sophomore Tim Clifford can continue performing anywhere near as well as he did against American, the Crusaders might be on to something.

PLAYER ROTATION: Usual Starters -- G Keith Simmons, G Kevin Hamilton, G Torey Thomas, F Alex Vander Baan, F Kevin Hyland. Key Subs -- F Colin Cunningham, C Tim Clifford.

GAME REVIEW:

Boston College 63, Holy Cross 53

Holy Cross 74, American 63

GAME PREVIEW:

vs. Colgate, Wednesday, Jan. 25

at Lehigh, Saturday, Jan. 28

at Navy, Wednesday, Feb. 1

at Lafayette, Saturday, Feb. 4

KEYS: The Crusaders' defense should be more than enough to beat Colgate, and the matchup against Lehigh should be one of the most pivotal Patriot League games of the year.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Keith Simmons played 37 minutes against American. He had been bothered by cramping earlier in the season, cutting down on his minutes in some games.

--G Pat Doherty, last season's Patriot League Rookie of the Year, will not play again in 2006. A leg injury will keep him out until next season.

Previous Report: 01/18/2006


 

 

 


 
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