SALEM — The KIPP Panthers took on the Salem Academy Navigators in an away game on Tuesday night, and in a rambunctious atmosphere, the Panthers returned home to Lynn with a 59-51 win.
Going into halftime leading 28-27, the message from head coach Moody Bey was simple: win the third quarter, and you win the game. That is exactly what the Panthers did.
“We did not talk about x’s and o’s at halftime. I could tell from the look in my guys’ eyes they wanted it,” Bey said. “So, I told them if they want it, they have to go and take it, now, in the third quarter.”
The momentum first ignited on defense when the Navigators drove baseline and thought they had an easy layup. Right before an opposing player rose for a layup, KIPP senior Vic Mafo (six points) slid across and drew a charge.
The Panthers took four charges on the night – much to the delight of the traveling fans.
“That was some of the best defense I have ever seen us play,” Bey said. “I don’t think they [Navigators] got many easy looks. We did a good job making them earn every basket.”
The Panthers gained momentum from the turnover and continued to do what they did well all game: make threes.
Trosky Pena (16 points), Tolulope Abosede (13 points), and Juan Setalsingh (three points) all connected with a three-pointer in the third quarter to help extend KIPP’s lead to 11 (51-40) heading into the fourth quarter. The Panthers made nine threes on the night.
“In the first 30 minutes of practice, we try to make 800 threes. It is definitely one of our strong suits,” Bey said.
Despite clicking in the third quarter, the Panthers’ offense was stagnant in the final quarter, allowing the Navigators to cut the lead to four with two minutes to go.
“We’ve been in really close games, but very rarely have we been in close games where we had the lead,” Bey said. “I take [the] blame for them coming back into the game – I did not prepare my guys well enough to play with a lead and to switch the approach to our offense.”
Up six, senior captain Osaru Evbenaye (14 points, 10/10 free throws) showed his experience by stepping up to the free throw line and knocking down a pair to ice the game with around 40 seconds remaining.
And because of their built-up lead from the third, the Panthers held off the Navigators.
“Finally, we’re healthy – this is our fourth game with everyone healthy. I think we are getting better every day,” Bey said.
The Panthers’ next game will be on the road as they face Whittier Regional next Tuesday with tip-off scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
