Pickin' Splinters

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Late run fuels Eugenio Maria DeHostos victory over Northstar Christian

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Luis Tolentino (left) Hippo Vargas (center) and Seth Patterson (right) combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter when EMHCS used an 18-6 run to pull away for a 59-49 victory over Northstar Christian in Private-Parochial League on Tuesday, December 10th, 2024. (Photo: PAUL GOTHAM

By PAUL GOTHAM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Eugenio Maria DeHostos Charter School (EMHCS) built a double-digit lead in the first quarter and then watched that advantage evaporate.

The Hornets made a second-half lead stand.

Seth Patterson led three in double figures, and Luis Tolentino scored four of his eight points in the fourth quarter as EMHCS defeated host Northstar Christian, 59-49 in Private-Parochial League action, Tuesday night.

“It was just fight,” said EMHCS head coach Brian Jackson whose squad improved to 3-0 on the season. “It was about keeping the fight and not panicking. This team are brothers. It’s about believing, man. We got a good team, here. In the past, we would have laid down and given up that lead.”

Trailing 43-41 after three quarters of play, Tolentino converted a putback to tie the score and then set up Hippo Vargas with the go-ahead bucket six possessions later.

The Hornets closed the game on an 18-6 run.

“We had three or four of our starters in foul trouble,” Jackson said. “I told them to keep the faith. The result is that we got the W. That’s a great team over there, a great team. Coach (JJ) Garwood is a great coach. It’s always a great battle with them. I consider this a rivalry now.”

Patterson connected on 4-of-5 free throw attempts over the last eight minutes as part of a 19-point effort on the night. Vargas scored six of 17, and Miguel Chevere accounted for four of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Tolentino’s play late in the quarter was the difference. Coming out of a timeout with 3:44 left in the game, Vargas hit a floater in the lane to make it a 53-48 game in favor of EMHCS.

Tolentino followed with a jump hook and then next trip down the floor he set up Chevere for a 57-48 lead.

The junior center battled Northstar big man Davonn Stevens and had the upper hand when it mattered most – late in the game.

“I told Luis at the beginning of the season if we’re going to win this thing, it’s going to be on him,” Jackson said. “I put that mark on him, and I’m sticking to it.”

EMHCS held Northstar without a field goal over its last eight possessions of the game.

EMHCS scored the first eight points of the game and built 17-6 after the first quarter. Patterson hit a pair of 3-pointers and also scored on a steal and layup. The Hornets led by as many as a dozen early in the second quarter.

Northstar used a 13-2 run to take it first lead. Miles Tomlinson’s corner 3 gave the Knights a 24-23 edge late in the second quarter.

The teams exchanged the lead three times in the third quarter. Northstar had its largest advantage when Stevens finished a rebound and putback for a 37-33 lead.

Tomlinson had 11 points. Kingston Downs led Northstar (2-1) with 13 points.

EUGENIO MARIA DEHOSTOS CHARTER SCHOOL
Hippo Vargas 8 0-0 17, Miguel Chevere 6 0-2 12, Mel Thomas 1 1-2 3, Able Patterson 0 0-0 0, Seth Patterson 5 6-10 19, Edwin Santiago 0 0-0 0, Yzavier Lopez 0 0-0 0, Luis Tolentino 3 2-4 8, Zaidel Pedraza 0 0-2 0 TOTALS 23 9-20 — 59

NORTHSTAR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Max Skolen 3 1-2 9, Max Klemmer 2 2-4 6, Jay Garwood 1 0-2 3, Miles Tomlinson 4 2-2 11, Calon Flowers-Cruz 0 0-0 0, Dennis Gritsak 0 0-0 0, Kingston Downs 5 2-4 13, DaVonn Stevens 3 1-8 7 TOTALS 18 8-22 — 49

EUGENIO MARIA DEHOSTOS CHARTER 17 7 17 18 — 59
NORTHSTAR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6 18 19 6 — 49

3-point goals — EUGENIO MARIA DEHOSTOS CHARTER 3 (Seth Patterson 3); NORTHSTAR CHRISTIAN 5 (Skolen 2, Garwood 1, Tomlinson 1, Downs 1).

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