OLEAN, N.Y. — After scoring just 11 first-half points against Olean in a 32-point blowout loss in the opening game of the Joe DeCerbo Memorial Tournament on Saturday, the Bradford Owls — and their offense — responded in a big way in the consolation round Sunday.
Tyler Gigliotti poured in 33 points, and the Owls outlasted Belfast (N.Y.) 70-64 in a Sunday afternoon tilt at Reilly Center on the campus of St. Bonaventure University.
Bradford (5-3) coach Brian Hobbs was pleased to see his team respond from Saturday’s big loss, a game in which he wasn’t all too pleased with his team’s performance.
“It was a disappointing effort,” he said. “Thought we lacked effort and toughness for most of that game. I don’t know if it was shellshock from playing in a bigger arena or whatever. Olean is just a solid all-around team.”
Bradford had no such scoring woes against Belfast, dropping 38 points in the first half.
The Owls, however, would need all the offense they could get as the Bulldogs had a hot hand of their own.
Belfast’s Adam Enders had a 45-year DeCerbo Tournament record with 39 points in the game, a performance that allowed his team to keep pace with the Owls.
But Bradford took a five-point lead at the end of the third quarter and held off the Bulldogs on the heels of a 15-point second half from Gigliotti.
“(Gigliotti) got his confidence up today,” Hobbs said. “He made some shots that he’s been struggling with from the perimeter and we got him going on the high post, as well. He’s our leader on the offensive end and we needed that.”
Bradford’s Donny Pattison was strong on the glass, notching a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Hobbs said that Pattison’s production will be critical to the Owls as they look to become more consistent with their play this season.
“Donny is a guy that gives us 110 percent effort every night,” he said. “But tonight it was pretty good for him to figure out how to get not only those rebounds, but those points as well. They will be important for us.”
As for Enders, Hobbs gave credit to the Belfast senior — who reached the 2,000-point milestone in his career on Saturday — for not only hitting his shots from the perimeter (Enders had four 3-pointers) but for his ability to draw contact and get to the free-throw line.
Enders sank 19 of his 23 foul shots on the game
“Caleb (Nuzzo) did a pretty good job on him. But he makes every open shot he has and makes every contested one too,” Hobbs said with a laugh.
The Owls, which have alternated wins and losses for most of the season, are off until next Friday at St. Marys. As they get ready for a dose of league games in the new year, Hobbs is hoping to see a few changes from his squad.
“We are still trying to figure guys out and find out who the best five we have are,” Hobbs said. “We have a lot of bodies who bring different things and can contribute in different ways, but we also have a lot to figure out.”
“Still looking for consistency, chemistry and communication to come together next game.”
AT OLEAN, N.Y.
Belfast (64)
Adam Enders 8 19-23 39, Kevin McCumiskey 6 4-6 20, Struckman 2 1-3 5, Al. Enders 0 0-1 0, Harriger 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 24-33 64
Bradford (70)
Tyler Gigliotti 13 4-6 33, Steve Knowlton 5 1-2 12, Donny Pattison 3 5-8 11, Babcock 2 2-2 8, Kane 1 0-0 3, Schmidt 0 1-3 1. Totals: 24 15-23 70
Belfast 19 37 49 64
Bradford 18 38 54 70
Three-point goals: Belfast 8 (Enders 4, McCumiskey 4), Bradford 7 (Gigliotti 3, Babcock 2, Knowlton, Kane); total fouls: Belfast 22 , Bradford 24; fouled out: none
