HENDERSONVILLE The Pope John Paul II High boys basketball team started off strong on Monday evening, but the Knights’ finish may have left something to be desired.
Pope John Paul II High senior Ryan Hatten dunks during first-quarter action. Hatten scored 10 points.
PJP II went on a 27-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to build a 38-10 halftime lead, but the Knights watched visiting Glencliff trim into that edge in the second half of a 61-46 victory in the PJP II Christmas Classic.
The Knights (9-1) held Glencliff (1-7) scoreless for 8:47 as a 7-6 lead turned into a 34-6 advantage in just a little more than a quarter’s worth of work.
“We were playing well in all aspects,” Knights senior forward Ryan Hatten said. “We were moving the ball well, getting open shots and playing hard on defense and getting turnovers. Then, it just kind of went away.”
Junior forward Matthew Galvin had as many points (10) as the Colts did in the first half, ultimately finishing with 13 to pace the Knights offensively.
Hatten scored 10, including each of the Knights’ first two baskets in the contest. The Knights never trailed.
“The first half was great,” Knights head coach Kip Brown said. “It was really good. But we just didn’t have that killer instinct or that pride in the second half, and that was disappointing to see. It’s another learning lesson in a long season.”
Pope John Paul II High senior guard Trent Griffin dribbles into the lane against Glencliff’s John Topacco during third-quarter action.
Eleven different Knights scored in the contest, with 10 different players tallying in the first half.
Glencliff did not score a field goal in the second quarter as the Colts’ four points in the period all came on free throws.
However, Glencliff outscored PJP II by a 17-11 margin in the third quarter and 19-12 in the fourth quarter.
“The second half, (Glencliff) turned up the defense,” Brown said. “We played like we were way ahead, without a purpose. I told the guys at halftime, ‘let’s work on us,’ and we didn’t do that.”
The Knights used full-scale substitutions, replacing all five players on most occasions. The PJP II starting five sat out most of the second quarter as the Knights let their depth take over.
“The starters are building that chemistry playing together, and the way we sub, it gives a different look with the guys who go on the floor,” Hatten said.
Pope John Paul II High junior forward Matthew Galvin elevates for an interior shot during first-quarter action. Galvin scored 13 points in the Knights’ 61-46 victory.
However, Brown wasn’t exactly pleased with the way the Colts outscored his squad in the second half.
“Give credit to (Glencliff),” Brown said. “They didn’t quit or give up, and they kicked our butts in the second half.”
Hatten said that the Knights have to learn from Monday’s second half.
“We’ve got to work on finishing games … that’s the biggest one,” Hatten said. “That way, when it comes to region play and we get up five with a minute left, we can finish out and get wins.”
The Knights will travel to Freeport, Fla., for the Hilton Sandestin Beach Shootout, beginning on Sunday.
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.
GLENCLIFF (46) – Keyauin Elliot 14, John Topacco 11, Ali Baldin 10, Leonard Lewter 9, Deng Kohr 2.
POPE JOHN PAUL II (61) – Matthew Galvin 13, Ryan Hatten 10, Jayson Brown 8, Jalon Cambridge 7, Jake Rucker 6, Nick Nixon 4, Mitchell Sorenson 4, Justin McMurry 3, Devan Cambridge 2, C.J. Laws 2, Jamaal Thompson 2.
Half: 38-10, Pope John Paul II. 3-point goals: Glencliff 4 (Topacco 2, Baldin 1, Lewter 1), Pope John Paul II 1 (J. Cambridge 1). Records: Glencliff 1-7, Pope John Paul II 9-1.