THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Maritime basketball team returned to the court on Sunday afternoon and notched its third win of the young season with a 93-85 victory over the Mitchell Mariners.
All five starters for the Privateers had double figures in points with junior John Liccese (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman) leading the way with 21 points, classmate Patrick MacDonald (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) was second on the team with 19 points. Junior Isaiah Hayes(Jamaica, N.Y./Queens Teaching) added 17 points, while senior Tim Hoch (Coventry, R.I./Fishers Island (N.Y.)) added 15 and junior Tim McQuail (Middle Village, N.Y./Cathedral Prep) netted 12 points.
For the second straight game, Liccese also led the team with the single-game record with 14 helpers on the afternoon including eight in the second half. MacDonald registered a double-double as he led the team with 12 rebounds. Hoch snagged eight boards, while Hayes picked up seven rebounds of his own. MacDonald and Hayes each had a pair of blocks, while Hayes and Hoch had two steals apiece.
Freshman Brendan McGovern (Seaford, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) had a pair of three-pointers to contribute with six points off the bench, while senior Brendon Halligan (Durham, N.Y./Cairo-Durham)added another three-pointer of his own. Seniors Liam Ryan (Buffalo, N.Y./Nichols) and Bobby Parlow(Bay Head, N.J./Point Pleasant Beach) each had a rebound, as did junior Akil Spruill (Queens, N.Y./Holy Cross).
After a slow start, Hoch got the scoring started just 60 seconds in the game. Mitchell held a 6-5 lead, before Hayes connected on a layup to put the Privateers ahead. After another bucket by the Mariners, Liccese stepped back for the first of his five three-point baskets on the game. The score remained close and was tied at 16 with 12:04 left in the opening period.
Hayes got the Privateers ahead again with a layup off of a steal, then Liccese added a free throw to give Maritime a three-point lead. The lead swelled to six, but Mitchell continued to keep the game within two possessions.
With 2:25 left in the half, Hoch drained a three-pointer off a pass from Liccese to give the Privateers a 41-33 advantage. MacDonald made it a 10-point lead with a pair of free throws with 85 seconds left in the half. Mitchell trimmed the lead to four, but Liccese knocked down a three-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Privateers a 46-39 lead heading into the halftime break.
In the second half, Liccese connected on a three to put the Privateers ahead by 10, then added another three-pointer to give Maritime a 52-39 lead with 18:07 left in regulation. The lead continued to grow as Hayes connected on a layup to make it a 15-point lead. McQuail made it an 18-point advantage with a three-pointer, followed by a layup from MacDonald to make it 61-41.
A 14-2 run by the Mariners made the game close again as the score was sliced to 67-60 in favor of the Privateers. Maritime was able to stop the bleeding with a Liccese layup, followed by a MacDonald jumper to put the Privateers ahead by double figures once again. Another run by the Mariners pulled Mitchell back within four at 82-78 with 4:25 to go in the game.
Still ahead by four with 1:15 to go in the game, Hayes converted on a layup followed by a key three-pointer by Hoch to give Maritime breathing room in the closing minute. Liccese knocked down a free throw to make it a 10-point game with 28 seconds left. Mitchell scored the next four points, but MacDonald iced the game with just seconds remaining to seal the win for the Privateers.
Maritime (3-2) will head into conference play on a two-game winning streak as the Privateers will open league play on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., when the team travels to Purchase for a date with the Panthers.
Mitchell (0-2) will return home on Wednesday evening for a 6 p.m. start against local rival Coast Guard.