Branch, Galindo Lead St. Benedicts to Win
NEWARK, N.J. -- Stanley Branch scored 22 points and Alex Galindo chipped in 15 to lead St. Benedict's to a 71-63 victory over the Lawrenceville School on Wednesday afternoon.
The Gray Bees used a strong surge that bridged the second and third quarters to grab a 39-27 lead midway through the third period.
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Lawrenceville battled back, pulling to within 55-51 on a three pointer by junior guard David Whitehurst with 3:29 remaining.
St. Benedict's fended off the Big Red by hitting most of its free throws down the stretch. J.R. Smith, the Gray Bees' gifted 6-5 swingman, scored 12 points and converted a key three point play after Lawrenceville sliced the deficit to four points.
SBP senoior point guard Bashir Mason (Drexel) was a perfect six of six from the foul line in the second half. He and UMass bound Artie Bowers scored eight point apiece.
Whitehurst, a 6-2 junior shooting guard who transferred in from Monmouth Regional H.S., was Lawrenceville's most impressive performer. He connected on five three pointers, scoring 20 points, while lanky 6-7 forward Aaron Washington (an Ivy/Patriot League recruiting target) tallied 16 points.
Lawrenceville plays at Blair Academy on Saturday, while St. Benedict's leaves on Friday for this weekend's Flying to the Hoop Tournament in Vandalia, Ohio.