BY SAPNA PATHAK
Tony Carnovale had 26-minutes and 16 seconds to cool down before trying to get his players to do the same.
Sitting alone in the visiting locker room after an ejection knocked him from the game against Central on Tuesday, Jan. 23, Carnovale could only listen as his team was pummelled, 63-31, snapping a four-game winning streak.
“Of course it was hard to watch from the other side,” said Carnovale. “But we have to throw this one out as soon as possible, take the mistakes we made and correct them.”
Carnovale’s cagers fell behind, 21-11, after the first quarter. Central brought its pressure defense to outscore the Grizzlies on 8-0 and 9-2 runs in the frame.
Goffstown’s defense held Central scoreless for the first three minutes of the second quarter before junior James Jackson busted through the lane for a Little Green layup.
Central’s defense was the difference, though, as the hosts moved to a 32-15 lead at halftime.
Tommy MacDonald and Gregory Meighan led Goffstown with five points apiece at the half.
The Little Green’s well-known full-court press caused more problems in the second half; Goffstown scored six points in the third quarter on field goals from Alex Sobolov, Zach Clark and MacDonald.
The Grizzlies shot 50 percent in the fourth quarter, making three of their six shots, and 42 percent from the free-throw line, going 3-for-7.
“We just didn’t react well to their pressure on the ball,” said a somber Sobolov. “We were off on our shots because we were rushed, and we felt rushed all night on offense.”
Though the loss dropped the Grizzlies to 4-3, Wheeler had good things to say about his good friend Carnovale’s team.
“This was the first time I saw them live, and I certainly saw improvements.” said Wheeler. “Their guards are more skilled and they had strong defense.
“There seemed to just be a communication mix-up before he (Carnovale) was ejected,” added the Central mentor.
Carnovale was ejected after receiving one technical foul, then leaving his seat later in the first quarter.
After the ejection, a confused and upset Carnovale was calmed by Wheeler and left the floor.
Despite the lopsided score, Carnovale and Wheeler exchanged handshakes and well wishes.
It just came more than three quarters earlier than Carnovale would have liked.