Ketcham Advances Thanks To Big Second Half Over Beacon

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. - With four seniors in the starting lineup, it was the sophomore Owen Paino who energized Ketcham High School Monday, as he had a game-high 19 points in the Indians 61-34 victory over Beacon.

“It was something that we needed him to do,” Ketcham head coach Matt Paino said. “It’s something that he has the ability to do, and we need him to be more aggressive. Sometimes he becomes very passive and tries to get everybody involved, which as a coach is great. However, he’s one of our top scorers and we need him to come out and look to do that and he exerted himself on the offensive end.”

Paino scored 12 of his 19 in the second half, including scoring seven straight to end the third quarter to help break the game open.

The Beacon Bulldogs kept it close in the first half, only being down by nine at the halftime break. But, Ketcham head coach Mike Paino ignited the energy of the Indians at the break.

“As a team, and for myself, it was a slow first half,” Owen Paino said. “But, Coach Paino talked to us in the locker room, got us fired up. Us, as a team, came out with fire and that helped me and the team.”

The Indians outscored Beacon 34-16 in the second half. 

“We started off a little slow, I would say we have to get better on that. But that’s a good Beacon team, they came out with more energy than us. I think that’s what helped them a lot,” Owen Paino said. “We really bounced back in the second half. We played together as a team.”

Vinne Luele came alive in the fourth quarter, as he knocked down three of his four three pointers in the fourth; he finished with 14 points. 

“Vinny does that all the time in practice, and we’re trying to get Vinny the confidence to do that in the game, so it was great to see Vinny get that confidence,” Matt Paino said of Luele.

Gabe Bristow finished with 12 for the Indians.

For the Bulldogs, Adrian Beato scored a team high 11 points. Darien Gillins had seven.

Beacon is now 2-3 on the year, as they’ll look to bounce back Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. vs FDR.

“It’s a great win, especially after the three day break, so good to get off on the right foot,” Matt Paino said.

Ketcham is now 5-1 and has advanced to the semifinal of the Ketcham Holiday Tournament and will take on Our Lady of Lourdes at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

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