By STEFAN GESTWICKI
OBSERVER Sports Reporter
The first game in Dunkirk's new gymnasium couldn't have gone much worse for the home team.
Article Photos
OBSERVER?Photos by Roger Coda
Silver Creek’s Steve Marcey goes up for two of his game-high 31 points in leading the Black?Knights to a 90-70 victory over the Dunkirk Marauders on Monday in non-league boys high school basketball action.
The Marauders, playing host to the Silver Creek Black Knights in a non-league contest Monday, were embarassed to the tune of 90-70 in front of a packed house.
Steve Marcey had Silver Creek flying out of the gate. He scored 13 points in the first quarter - part of a game-high 31 point night - to lead the Black Knights to a 32-16 advantage after eight minutes.
"He hit 42 three-pointers last year," Silver Creek coach Rob Genco said of Marcey, who hit seven treys Monday. "He's a high percentage shooter and he gets if off quick."
In addition to the red-hot shooting of Marcey, Silver Creek's press defense created easy points off turnovers as Dunkirk struggled to get the ball past half court.
"It's been our style," Genco added. "We talk every day about playing good defense. We know if we can pressure and be tenacious after the ball that we can create turnovers."
"They did a good job in their press," Dunkirk coach Jerome Moss agreed. "They were able to get some traps and strip the ball from behind."
In that decisive first quarter, Silver Creek went on a lighting fast 18-0 run in just a shade over two minutes.
After the Black Knights opened their lead up to 48-22 midway through the second quarter, Dunkirk came storming back to close the gap before halftime.
Behind four three-pointers in four minutes from Manny Maisonet, Dunkirk was able to end the half on a 16-4 run and trailed 52-38 at the break.
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"This is a new team," Moss continued. "We're trying to figure out what our strengths are. They shot well at the end of the half there. Hopefully we can take that and put some more effort to some other areas of need."
A glaring need for the Marauders was free throws. Silver Creek outshot Dunkirk 31-2 at the charity stripe.
"That's a big area that needs to be addressed," Moss agreed. "You have to get to the free throw line. They're free. You ought to be able to get a couple free throws."
Silver Creek's defense was terrific in the second half, allowing just four points in the first six minutes of the third quarter.
The main reason for the lockdown was Silver Creek's towering center Bill Brooks, who continuously swatted away Dunkirk shot attempts and altered a handful more.
"He's made the system better," Genco praised Brooks. "He alters shots, grabs rebounds and keeps the ball high. He makes those passes down court and he's getting all those assists. He makes us better than we were last year. We didn't have that size."
Maisonet led the Marauders with 14 points while fellow guard Marquel Buchanon-Ruiz added 13. Jacob Lockett scored eight, including a buzzer beater to end the third quarter.
"(Maisonet and Buchanon) did a decent job today of running the floor," Moss said. "They're quick and can make plays."
NOTES: Zed Williams netted 28 points for Silver Creek while teammate Kaine Kettle was good for 14 ... Dunkirk made 10 three-point shots ... Silver Creek hit on nine ... The Black Knights converted on just 16 of 31 (51.6%) free throws ... Michael Bess recorded 11 rebounds for Dunkirk and Esmond Colvin grabbed eight.
