By Lori Brown
LIBERTY — February 10, 2006 – The Port Jervis Raiders overtook the host Liberty Indians, 66-41, on Tuesday night in a non-league boys’ varsity basketball game.
The Raiders were ahead throughout the entire contest.
Early in the first quarter, Port Jervis (8-7) built up a 6-0 lead before Liberty junior guard Lakarri Byrd put his team on the board with the first 3-point shot of the game. Byrd’s trey cut the PJ lead to 6-3 with four minutes remaining on the opening-quarter clock.
Then PJ senior John Grogan drained a 3-pointer as well to make the score 9-3.
Liberty junior Rashawn Sellers scored four points in the opening period.
With nine seconds remaining, Grogan swished his second 3-pointer. Faced with a 22-7 deficit at the end of the opening eight minutes of play, the Indians knew they had to work harder in the remaining three quarters.
During the second period, however, PJ was still in control of the game. Byrd made another 3-pointer, but it was still not enough to overcome the Raiders’ momentum.
PJ’s Chuck Magos also swished a 3-pointer in the second quarter to help his team maintain its advantage.
Byrd swished his third 3-point shot of the evening in the third period.
During the last quarter, PJ still had the upper hand while overpowering Liberty (2-12).
Byrd was the Indians’ top scorer with 20 points, while junior Andre Brand added nine points.
Liberty Coach Dave Slater said that his team played hard, but he could not find the right chemistry on the court. He could not configure the players to make things happen.
“From the beginning we missed four or five layups, and that just put us right out of the game,” Slater stated.
PJ Coach Ron Semerano said his team had a good night. He also noted that he was very happy that all of the Raiders got to play, whereas in some of the team’s past games the score was fairly close and he had to play his starters throughout the contest.
“We played with intensity and very well,” Semerano said. “We distributed the ball very well and seniors Vince Malzahn, Chris Rohrer and John Grogan took charge.”
Malzahn, who made his first basket in the opening 15 seconds of the contest, recorded a game-high 26 points.
Grogan finished the evening with 20 points.