MHS holds off NCS in Skipper Invitational

Mandeville’s Skippers held off a pesky Northlake Christian School Wolverines squad 63-55 Wednesday night in the 2008 Skipper Classic. Senior Jordane Ganapamo hit for a game-high 25 points to offset an amazing shooting performance by NCS senior point guard Josh Ryan, who finished with 23 points, clicking on 7-of-9 three point attempts.

The contest was a tremendous battle with Class 1A Northlake Christian School refusing to go away.

Ryan blistered the nets for three treys in the opening quarter to help the Wolverines build a 19-16 lead. Ryan scored nine consecutive points as he drained three baskets from behind the arc. MHS’ Ganapamo had five points in the first quarter and Chad Alfaro added four to keep the Skippers in the game.

MHS outscored NCS 21-15 in the second quarter to take a 37-34 halftime lead. Ganapamo netted six points in the period with Zach Adema adding four points. He finished with 10 points, hitting on three treys, including a huge 3-pointer with just 40 seconds to play, which gave the Skippers a 57-52 lead.

MHS coach John Priola said it was an ill-advised shot under the circumstances with time running out and his Skippers holding a two-point lead with less than a minute to play.

“Fortunately for us it went in.”

Priola praised the shooting of Ryan from downtown.

“He (Ryan) made too many long range shots for it to be luck. He was hitting bombs. Our guys were just kind of looking at him when he would pull up. You figure after about three or four they would get on him. He almost single handedly beat us,” Priola said.

Mandeville connected on eight three-pointers to help offset Ryan’s outstanding shooting performance from behind the arc.

“It was a big game for us. We played with lots of intensity, but nothing is better than coming out with a win and we didn’t do that,” Ryan said.

Ryan said if he’s left open, he will put up the shot. “I like taking shots from the top of the key. The defense wasn’t playing up at the top so I was able to step right in and knock down the shot. We just didn’t get it done at the free throw line,” Ryan said.

After Adema’s three-pointer gave the Skippers a five-point lead, the Wolverines were fouled with 22 seconds left, but missed both free throws. Ganapamo was fouled and calmly sank two charity tosses to build a 59-52 margin with 20 seconds to go. He finished with nine points in the final quarter to help keep the Wolverines at bay.

NCS refused to go away as Josh Seale banked in a three-pointer high off the glass with just 14.2 seconds remaining to cut the MHS lead to 59-55. Skippers’ point guard Josh Priola came up big late, converting 4-of-4 free throws in the final seconds to preserve the 63-55 victory.

Priola made 6-of-6 from the charity stripe as the Skippers connected on 15-of-18 free throws (83.3 percent). On the other hand NCS struggled from the free throw line, making just 5-of-16 attempts (31.2 percent).

Priola said he was proud of the way his players hung in there.

“We hit key free throws down the stretch. NCS is a good, scrappy team,” Priola said.

Ganapamo, the Skippers’ leading scorer, who hit on 7-of-8 free throws, said it was a struggle.

“That No. 24 (Ryan) was really good. He made some really long shots. We made the big free throws at the end. If we would have missed those free throws it would have been really close,” Ganapamo said.

In Wednesday’s opening game of the Skipper Classic, Salmen’s Spartans defeated the Bogalusa Lumberjacks 61-58. Salmen’s Daron Populist finished with 18 points, including three treys, while making 5-of-5 free throws. R. J. Scott added 13 points followed by Derrick Thomas with 12. Salmen connected on 13-of-17 free throws, while hitting eight treys. Salmen held a 36-33 halftime lead. Bogalusa’s Brandon Magee tallied a game-high 20 points. Drew Galloway contributed 13 points followed by Ryan Crumedy with 10 for the Lumberjacks.

In game two, the Catholic High Bears topped the Destrehan Wildcats 60-49 behind Tanner Breaux’s 22 points. Kevin Miller added 15 points and Steven Duhe had six for the Bears. Destrehan’s Roosevelt Johnson led all scorers with 23 points backed by Kevin Smothers with 10.

The Skipper Classic concludes today with four games on tap beginning at 3:30 p.m. Check out Sunday’s edition of the St. Tammany News sports for the remainder of the tournament results.