New Castle Report

The New Castle Red Hurricanes are known around the WPIAL as having the best traveling fans. No one can come close the support the Canes get on the road. Now we know the same holds true for traveling to home games. The Hurricanes first road-home game, now known as a "roam game" was played tonight at the Westminster College Fieldhouse in front of nearly 2000 fans, several of which were Blackhawk fans.

The fans were treated to the game one would expect between these two perennial powerhouses. Blackhawk led by their all everything guard Brandon Fuss-Cheatham, who has committed to Ohio State, slugged it out with the Canes in a game that saw 14 lead changes and neither team leading by more than six points at anytime during the game. Employing a 1-3 defense with Mark Cook chasing Fuss-Cheatham, the Hurricanes finally out lasted the Cougars by winning their only quarter of the game, the fourth, 13-11 to grab the non-section win 51-50.

Blackhawk drew first blood with a jumper from the side to go up 2-0. The Canes quickly responded as Mark Cook drained a ‘three’. Fuss-Cheatham then answered with a ‘three’ to put the Cougars back on top. A Cane turnover led to another Blackhawk basket just 24 seconds later, 7-3 Blackhawk.

Dom Joseph scored to get the Canes back within two but a Cougar basket and another Cougar score and it was 11-5 with 4:35 to play in the first. Joseph responded with a ‘three’ to narrow the gap but Blackhawk answered to put the lead at five.

The teams exchanged baskets with Blackhawk maintaining their five point lead until with 41 seconds to play Joseph scored again and a Hurricane steal led to a Hoover Gibson layup with just three seconds on the clock. After one period Blackhawk led 18-17.

Mark DeMonaco hit a ‘three’ to open the second quarter putting the Canes on top for the first time since the opening basket by Cook. The Cougars answered with a ‘three’ to regain the lead at 6:43. Leon Ward put the Canes back on top with a basket just 20 seconds later but Fuss-Cheatham responded for the Cougars to give them back the lead.

Joseph hit one of two free throws at 4:58 to tie the game at 23. Blackhawk then hit a ‘two’ to go back on top. Ward then finally got a ‘three’ to drop after have two others rim out and the Hurricanes were in the lead again.

Fuss-Cheatham made two free throws to spark a 5-2 Cougar spurt to end the half. At intermission Blackhawk now led by two, 30-28.

A Blackhawk free throw to start the third period extended the lead but a hoop by Joe Carter and a free throw by Joseph tied the game at 31 at the 6:51 mark.

A minute elapsed before anyone scored as Fuss-Cheatham made one of two free throws to break the tie.

The next 2:30 saw no scoring as the Canes missed three shots and the Cougars two until Fuss-Cheatham again broke the ice with a hoop.

Carter made a free throw and then hit a layup after a Hurricane steal to tie the score at 34 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

Blackhawk made three of four free throws and a hoop down the stretch as New Castle just netted two baskets and Blackhawk remained in the lead as the period ended but just by one, 39-38.

The Cougars scored first to open the fourth and go up by three, 41-38. Joseph quickly scored for the Canes to get back within one. Blackhawk missed a shot on their next possession and Joseph made them pay by nailing a ‘three’ to put the Hurricanes on top 43-41.

Another Blackhawk miss and a Red Hurricane rebound got the ball back in Joseph’s hands where he hit ‘two’ and the Canes led 45-41 with 5:30 to play.

The Canes however could not take advantage of a Cougar turnover missing a layup and giving the Cougars life.

Blackhawk however missed the front of a one and one at 3:57 and the Canes rebounded but again missed their next shot and Blackhawk got the loose ball.

Fuss-Cheatham then attempted to take over the ball game and hit a jumper with just 3:17 to play to get the Cougars within two 45-43, Blackhawk’s first points in just over four minutes. During which time the Cougars missed three shots and the Hurricanes’ defense caused two turnovers.

Joseph scored again at 2:58 but Fuss-Cheatham responded with to keep Blackhawk within two.

Cook then hit his second ‘three’ of the game giving New Castle a five point lead 50-45 with just 1:58 to play.

Fuss-Cheatham answered Cook’s ‘three’ with one of his own just 14 seconds later and the Canes’ lead was again just two.

A Hurricane offensive foul with a minute left gave the ball back to the Cougars but this time Fuss-Cheatham missed a falling down field goal attempt and Ward grabbed the important rebound for the Hurricanes.

Cook was fouled with 33 seconds left and stepped to the line to shoot a one and one. He made the first extending the New Castle lead to three. The next free throw would give the Canes some room but the shot was errant and Blackhawk got the rebound, the lead was just three.

The Cougars again missed on their next field goal attempt and again Cook was fouled. With 28 seconds remaining Cook missed the front of the one and one but the Canes gathered in the rebound and then DeMonaco, the Canes best free throw shooter was fouled. DeMonaco also missed the front of the one and one with Fuss-Cheatham getting the rebound.

Fuss-Cheatham was fouled immediately, as the Canes tried to steal it back, and he stepped to the line to shoot a one and one with 17 seconds left. He missed the front and New Castle got the rebound.

Blackhawk then stole the ball from the Canes in the New Castle end and Fuss-Cheatham drove the court, but instead of pulling up for a ‘three’ he drove to the hoop hoping to make a basket and draw a foul. He made the layup but no foul was called and time ran out with the Canes holding the ball out of bounds.

The Hurricanes get a big confidence boost 51-50 over Blackhawk.

Dom Joseph was the Canes’ leading scorer with 18. Fuss-Cheatham was held to 22, six below his average.

. * Starter

Name	FG	FTA	FTM	3s	TP
Joseph*	7	4	2	2	18
Cook*	3	3	1	2	9
DeMonaco*	2	1	0	2	6
Carter*	3	2	1	0	7
Ward*	3	0	0	1	7
Gibson	2	0	0	0	4
Totals	20	10	4	7	51

score @ quarters	1	2	3	F
New Castle	17	28	38	51
Blackhawk	18	30	39	50

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