AMCATS capture top spot in TCCC with win over Pilgrims

PAXTON, Mass. (02.12.11) – Seniors Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) and Junior De La Hoz combined for 46 points and 10 three-pointers as the Anna Maria College men's basketball team clinched first place in The Commonwealth Coast Conference with a convincing 81-60 victory over New England College at The Fuller Activities Center on Saturday afternoon. The AMCATS have now won eight straight, including 13 of their last 14, improving to 16-7 overall and 10-1 in the conference, while the Pilgrims fall to 17-6 on the season and 6-5 in TCCC-play.

De La Hoz led the AMCATS with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. Pinsonault finished with 21 points while also adding five treys and five assists to go along with a career-high seven steals. Sophomore Anthony Click (Springfield, Mass.) also played well, compiling nine points, six assists, six steals, and two blocks, while senior Derek Johnson (Worcester, Mass.) and junior Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) chipped-in with seven points apiece.

The Pilgrims were paced by senior Shane Hennessey (Plymouth, Eng.) who had a team-best 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, while also grabbing five rebounds. Freshman Troy Prather (Claremont, Calif.) added 10 points and four assists, while senior Joe Faragher (North Ridgeville) had eight points and five steals in the loss.

The two teams traded blows through the first seven minutes of play, battling to a 13-all tie.

Already leading by two with 10 minutes remaining in the half, Anna Maria erupted for a 14-5 run over the next five minutes of play to open up an 11-point advantage.

However, an ill-advised alley-oop pass off the backboard by AMC was further compounded with a technical for hanging on the rim, immediately shifting the momentum in favor of the Pilgrims. New England College responded with a 10-0 run, cutting what could have been a 13-point AMCAT lead down to just one with three minutes remaining in the period.

Anthony Click scored the lone basket before intermission, sending the AMCATS into the locker room leading 36-33.

The AMCATS used a 12-5 advantage in points off of turnovers to gain the halftime edge, while NEC managed to stay close by getting 11 points from their bench and shooting 5-of-10 from downtown during the opening period.

The Pilgrims cut the AMCAT lead down to two through the opening four minutes of the second half, before AMC received threes from both Peterson and De La Hoz to help build an eight-point advantage.

The Pilgrims immediately answered the AMCATS' 8-2 run with an 8-2 burst of their own, sparked by both a three-pointer and a layup from Prather during the stretch.

The Anna Maria lead was just two with 10:30 left to play when De La Hoz got hot. The senior point guard poured in14 points, including four treys, over the next three minutes of action, as the AMCATS exploded for a 22-0 run to put the game out of reach.

New England College was hindered by 1-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc in the second half, while hitting just 50% from the charity stripe for the game. On the flip-side, Anna Maria hit 9-of-15 from downtown in the second half, while sinking 90% from the line during the contest.

Both teams will return to conference action on Tuesday at 7:30 pm, with the Pilgrims hosting Endicott and the AMCATS traveling to battle Western New England College on the road.

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information