Holy Family changes tempo, outcome

Using a full-court press to open the fourth quarter, Holy Family came back from nine points down to vault past Manitou Springs, 59- 55, Monday night.

The defensive change by Holy Family (2-3) forced Manitou Springs (4-4) into five consecutive turnovers to open the fourth quarter.

A layup by sophomore Dustin Jorgenson gave visiting Holy Family its first lead, 52-51, with 6:31 remaining.

Manitou Springs coach Ken Vecchio said his team got careless against the full-court press.

"We just got lazy ... making one handed passes and turning the ball over," he said. "That gave them all the energy they needed."

While Vecchio said the full-court press did damage, he said another defensive change by Holy Family hurt Manitou Springs even more.

"They threw a box-and-one (defense) against us and I didn't think we'd see it against a nonconference opponent. I knew we would see it in three weeks (when the conference season starts)," Vecchio said. "I tried to make something up during halftime but it didn't work to well."

Manitou Springs had led the entire game up to the fourth quarter, powered by Brian Vecchio's offensive arsenal. The 6-foot-8 senior scored 10 points in the first quarter, including two 3-point shots, giving Manitou Springs a 16-10 lead after the first period.

Manitou Springs, at one point in the second quarter, extended its lead to 11 points but then Holy Family switched to the box-and-one, putting one player on Brian Vecchio and playing zone against the rest of the Manitou players.

"That kind of threw us off and we, as a team, didn't execute well against it," Brian Vecchio said. "I never would of guessed we'd see a box-and-one in a nonconference game."

With the ultra-effective defensive scheme, Holy Family cut the Manitou Spring leads to 33-32 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Manitou Springs again built a cushion, this time thanks to seven points scored in the quarter by Branden Stinson, before the ill-fated fourth quarter killed Manitou Springs.

Brian Vecchio, who led all scorers with 21 points, said it was the second time this season his team had let a team comeback late for the win.

"We should of have this one and the one against La Junta. It was the same kind of story in both cases," said Brian Vecchio. "We definitely have somethings to work on but we'll be all right."

- Kurt Eilmes may be reached at 636-0250 or gtsports@gazette.com

Boys basketball

HOLY FAMILY 59

MANITOU 55

HIGHLIGHT: Holy Family makes defensive adjustments in the fourth quarter and overcomes a nine-point deficit.

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