Salesianum basketball Kareem Thomas looking to set up a play against Howard photo by Nick Halliday 2

Strong 3rd quarter shoots No. 6 Sallies over No. 4 Howard

Nick AlessandriniHeadlines, Sports

Salesianum basketball Kareem Thomas looking to set up a play against Howard photo by Nick Halliday 2

Salesianum basketball Kareem Thomas looking to set up a play against Howard, photo by Nick Halliday

 

It was a sold-out crowd Friday evening in Wilmington at Howard School of Technology where the fourth-ranked Wildcats welcomed sixth-ranked Salesianum. Sallies came into the contest winning 7 of 8, with their only loss coming to #5 Sanford. The Wildcats were winners of 5 of their last 6 games, with their only loss coming to #1 Middletown. It was physical, high-energy, and the game lived up to the hype early.

 

The two teams went back and forth in the first half. Kareem Thomas led the Sals with 8 first-half points, while RJ Matthews paced the Wildcats with 6. Howard would hold a 20-19 lead in a low-scoring half at the break, even though the pace favored Sallies.

 

The third quarter would be the difference. Salesianum would open up the quarter on a 13-3 run, taking a 32-23 lead. The run was cued by junior guard Isaiah Hynson, who scored the team’s first 5 points and assisted on a few more for the Sals. Howard struggled to find a rhythm offensively as leading scorer RJ Matthews struggled from the floor, and junior Jameer Deshields had to leave the game early in the fourth quarter due to a right lower leg injury.

 

Salesianum would ride that momentum into the fourth and never look back. The lead would blossom to as many as 15, with Howard coming as close as 9 but would never breakthrough. The Wildcats were held without a double-digit scorer and were led by Ayden Richards-Powell and Matthews who each had 8 points. Salesianum was led by Hynson, who scored a team-high 14. Kareem Thomas and RJ Johnson added 12 each in the win.

 

Howard (13-4) will now turn their attention to the Blue Hen Conference Championship game vs Flight A champ Middletown on February 25 at St Mark’s High School. Salesianum (13-7) has completed their regular season and will see where they land when the bracket is revealed.

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