MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / December 6, 1999

METAIRIE – St. Martin’s held off a late surge by Riverside, preserving a52-47 victory over the Rebels in the opening game of the Crescent City Baptist Tournament Thursday afternoon.

St. Martin’s (2-4) advanced to play Country Day Friday. Riverside (0-2)played Faith Christian Friday afternoon.

St. Martin’s took a 49-41 lead with three minutes left in the game on adrive by Zach Tyson. Michael Schoen started the comeback on the Rebels’next possession by driving the right baseline. Damien Melancon thengrabbed a steal and fed Joel Levin driving the left baseline to bring the Rebels to within 49-45 with 1:50 left.

Craig Tearney made it a two-point game with 47 seconds remaining on a leaning jumper in the lane. The Saints then went to a spread offense withChristian Piccato being fouled near the midcourt line with 23.9 secondsleft and hitting the first of two free throws. The Rebels turned the ballover on their ensuing possession and Tyson hit the second of two free throws to make it 51-47 with 17.2 seconds left. The Rebels were paced by Tearney with 18 points. Scottey Mansoncontributed 11 points with Schoen adding 10. Georg Venturatos led St.Martin’s with 18 points.

“We had too many unforced turnovers,” Riverside coach John White said.

“We need to work on our offense big time. Our defense is doing fine. Wejust have to find our roles out there.”St. Martin’s used its inside game to take a 10-3 lead with 3:23 left in thefirst quarter. Riverside rallied, pulling to within 10-8 at the 1:26 mark ona put back by Manson and a steal and layup by Schoen. Trey House foundDavid Peterson driving the left baseline to give the Saints a 12-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

That lead grew to 18-8 with 5:25 left in the half as Piccato found Tyson ahead on the break after grabbing a rebound. Tearney brought the Rebels towithin 25-19 with a 3-pointer from the right corner but Peterson took a steal in and Kerry Hicks hit a short jumper to make it 33-21 at the half.

Manson banked in a short jumper and was fouled, completing the three- point play to cut the deficit to 35-28 with 5:20 left in the third. Schoenfound Manson inside and then took a steal in, making it 38-32 with 2:45 left in the quarter.

A put back by Melancon and a jumper by Tearney from the free throw line made it a two-point game before House knocked down a jumper to give the Saints a 40-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Manson scored inside to make it 43-41 with 4:06 left but St. Martin’sanswered with a 6-0 run.

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