Top Seeds Advance In First Round Of George Welch B-Ball Playoffs

March 3, 2010 by Greg Lederer

The George Welch High School Boys' Basketball League kicked off the playoffs last Saturday. The United States Air Force Academy (East Division) and University of Hawaii (West Division) both advanced as top seeds, improving their records to 9-1. Dan Flynn scored 22 points to lead Hawaii past Louisiana State University (3-8 record), 58-35. LSU's Michael Jordan added 15 points.

Air Force received 17 points from Alfred Kroqi, compiling a 43-23 victory over the University of Kentucky (2-9 record). Tyler Robertson and Christian Colp tallied seven points each for Kentucky.

Before facing the top seeds, LSU and Kentucky each won qualifying games in the morning. Matt Annenberg posted 25 points, as LSU upended Georgetown (1-9 record) by a score of 47-41. Brian O'Reilly scored 13 points in a losing effort. Kentucky beat Syracuse (1-9 record), 51-32. Robertson netted 19 points, while Syracuse used 14 points from Spencer Beck.

The University of South Carolina and Arizona State University also moved to 9-1 overall. South Carolina earned a 45-32 victory over East Carolina University (2-8). Luke Scinto (19 points) and Corey Bellagamba (nine points) led their respective teams.

Ryan Bonassar's nine points helped Arizona State defeat Texas Christian University, 32-27. Eric Ploch provided 12 points to TCU (3-7 record).

Other first-round results, top-scorers, and records are listed:

University of Connecticut 43 (5-5), University of North Carolina 39 (6-4)
   Nick Cesca (25); John Broke and Bobby Thomas (14 each)

Davidson University 29 (5-5), University of Miami 23 (6-4)
   Michael Goggin (13); Tom Wellspeak (nine)

Georgia Tech University 49 (8-2), University of Rhode Island 18 (3-7)
   Paul Tuscano (15); Matt Costello (five)

Villanova University 51 (4-6), Sacred Heart University 47 (6-4)
   Max Slade (27); Dom Severino (17)

All the teams will continue playing, but there is a winner's bracket. Games scheduled for March 6 are displayed below. They will be played in the East Gym of Cheshire High School.

East Carolina vs. Rhode Island 8 a.m.
Arizona State vs. UConn 9:05 a.m.
Georgetown vs. Syracuse 10:10 a.m.
Air Force vs. Villanova 11:15 a.m.
Hawaii vs. Davidson 12:20 p.m.
LSU vs. Kentucky 1:25 p.m.
South Carolina vs. Georgia Tech 2:30 p.m.
Sacred Heart vs. Miami 3:35 p.m.
North Carolina vs. TCU 4:40 p.m.

The title game will be held Saturday, at 4:45 p.m. in the West Gym.