St. Mark’s at Nobles – Game Recap

Phil Kasiecki | Friday, February 15th, 2008

DEDHAM, Mass. - St. Mark's School made it look easy after the early minutes, running away from host Noble & Greenough in a 69-48 win on Wednesday.  The Lions took over the game about halfway through the first half and never looked back.

Some notes on the game:

•  Nobles needed a big game from Tucker Halpern to have any chance, and they didn't get it.  The junior forward never got on track and finished with just nine points.  To his credit, he tried to score off the dribble a few times instead of trying to shoot his way to points, but he didn't fare well.

•  Florida commit Erik Murphy was never really challenged inside, as Halpern rarely guarded him and everyone else gave up several inches to him.  That helped Murphy put up 26 points with a variety of easy inside moves, a few mid-range jumpers and a three-pointer.  His body is starting to fill out some, and the fundamentals are there.

•  Nate Lubick was probably the player who showed the most in this game.  Lubick went for 16 points, but that number doesn't matter.  More important was that he really played a basketball game and made a bigger impact than game-high scorer Murphy.  He rebounded very well, rarely leaking out like he's often had a tendency to do, and he really got after it with some hustle plays.  Additionally, he spent a lot of time in and around the paint, and responded well when opposing players tried to body him up.

•  The other big inside player for St. Mark's, Peter Kaasila, scored 12 points with a few close baskets.  His best chances were when he got it near the basket and made a move without having to dribble the ball, showing his good touch when he's near the basket.  On a couple of occasions, he was caught having to defend a player out on the perimeter, where he understandably struggled.

•  Dave Johnson ran the show capably for St. Mark's.  The junior wasn't looking to score often and didn't shine, but he got the job done and is all the way back from a broken wrist he suffered at an open gym workout at the end of September.

•  Derick Beresford wasn't a big factor for Nobles at either end of the floor.  Early on, it looked like he would be as he got a five-second violation on Johnson on the first possession of the game, but after that he wasn't the defensive pest he normally is.  Why he didn't have the ball in his hands more often offensively is a mystery.