PVI too much for Ireton, 60-36

The Paul VI Panthers (9-6, 3-4) historically have found Father Godley Gym a dangerous place for them to visit, with upsets and tight games the norm, but the 14th ranked Fairfax school found little slowing them down as they blew by the hosts in WCAC action. Bishop Ireton(8-9, 0-6) never found the rthymn Wednesday night in a lathergic 60-36 pasting that saw the Cardinals shoot but 18% from the field for the night.

“You won’t beat many teams, let alone a WCAC club, shooting 18%, ” lamented head coach Neil Berkman, who saw the Cardinals skid reach 6 straight with the Gonzaga Eagles visiting on Friday.

Both teams employed an aggressive 2-3 zone defense, but it was the more athletic and deeper Panthers that penetrated the zone and made shots as the Cardinals struggled from the perimeter. The first period was a ragged, turnover-ladened affair but PVI worked to a 9-4 lead at the end of one period.

Ireton was held scoreless in the second frame until Patrick Hanafin drained a three-pointer with 4:40 remaining in the half, then quickly hit another on the next possession and closed the lead to 13-10 before PVI ended the half with a 9-0 run. Hanafin continued to be Ireton’s only offense making an unusual 4 point play, fouled on a successful three point attempt and adding the free throw and the third of four 3-pt buckets on the night, but Ireton found itself in a 38-26 hole after three quarters. The lanky senior at one point in the third quarter had 15 of Ireton’s 25 points.

Marcus Hayes fouled out early in the 4th quarter and center Brandon Scales and Matt Barnwell soon followed Hayes to the bench with five fouls. Hanafin ended the contest with 18 points to lead Ireton, Antonio Rouse had 5, Hayes 4, and senior Sam Walters 3 on the evening.

The Panthers were paced by sophomores Patrick Holloway and Jamall Robinson with 10, Higgins with 9, Tilman Dunbar added 8 as did Stan Robinson.

Berkman’s squad has little time to recover with the Eagles of Gonzaga visiting the Cardinals Friday for a tripleheader. Frosh tip at 4pm, JV at 5:45, varsity at 7:30.