Schools
De La Salle Gets Its Revenge
The Spartans' killer combo of Udenyi and Pitts leads route of Monte Vista.
De La Salle High avenged their only league loss of the season Tuesday night at home against Monte Vista High by a lopsided count of 67-39.
The Spartans pulled one game ahead of the Mustangs and into first place in the EBAL standings.
De La Salle was able to turn the tables after a 41-40 defeat on Jan. 6 to Monte Vista with tenacious team defense and the lethal veteran duo of Elliot Pitts and Amadi Udenyi.
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With USF head coach Rex Walters in the stands scouting, the pair put on a show. The 6-foot-5 Pitts staged a one-man block party, swatting six shots and pouring in 23 points.
“We came into this game with a lot of fire,” said Pitts. “We have changed a lot since the loss (to Monte Vista) and we learn from each defeat. We learned that we had to make our free throws and get in better shape. I think we improved from last game to this game.”
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Udenyi guarded the Mustang’s passing lanes like a hawk and was scorching hot from three-point range. He tallied a game-high 26 points and converted six three's.
The Spartans not only started quarters quickly, but their clutch shooting at the end of periods silenced the large Monte Vista crowd and put several daggers to the heart of the Mustangs.
“Starting quarters quickly was huge for us,” said Pitts. “We have been working on the starts to games and quarters in practice and it really paid off tonight.”
In the first quarter, De La Salle jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but Monte Vista stormed back and tied the score at 10-10, with a minute remaining in the quarter.
Pitts nailed a cold-blooded three, with a hand in his face as the first quarter buzzer sounded to give the Spartans a 13-10 lead.
The three was Pitts first points of the contest and he immediately gained confidence, starting the second period with a tough driving lay-up and a three to put the Spartans up 18-10.
Pitts would end the second quarter just like he did the first with a determined drive and lay-up with only three seconds remaining and gave his team a nine-point advantage.
The Spartans never trailed after the first and only allowed Monte Vista six points in the second.
“We stress defense at De La Salle,” added Pitts who also collected five boards and three assists. “Last game we did not defend like we could and this game we defended a lot better.”
Pitts and Udenyi continued to burn down the nets in the second half. Pitts attacked the basket with reckless abandon while his point guard could not stop connecting from deep.
Udenyi put the game out of reach with an ice-cold three at the third quarter buzzer to push the score to 46-27 and the Mustangs never put together a run.
Monte Vista’s Dan Gallagher, displayed a nice outside touch, and led his team with nine points and six rebounds.
The Mustangs trail the Spartans by a single game in the standings with five games remaining in the EBAL season.
——————————
De La Salle 67, Monte Vista 39
1
2
3
4
F
Monte Vista
10
6
11
12
31
De La Salle
13
12
21
21
67
Individuals — (fg ftm-fta tp)
Monte Vista
Linck 1 0-0 2, Zamora 1 0-0 2, Oliveria 3 0-0 7, John 1 1-2 3, Viscuglia 1 0-0 2, Turner 1 0-0 2, Gallagher 4 0-0 9, Satoor 1 4-4 7, Martino 0 2-2 2, Dalton 0 3-4 3. Totals 13 10-12 39.
De La Salle
Udenyi 10 0-0 26, O'Dea 1 0-0 3, Oronos 1 0-1 2, Will 1 0-2 2, Pitts 8 4-4 23, Sullivan 0 0-0 0, Gunder 3 0-0 6, White 2 1-2 5. Totals 26 5-9 67.
3-point goals: Monte Vista 3 (Oliveria, Gallagher, Satoor), De La Salle 10 (Udenyi 6, Pitts 3, O’Dea).
Fouled out: None. Technicals: Zamora, Sullivan.
Records: Monte Vista 15-6, 7-2 EBAL; De La Salle 19-2, 8-1 EBAL.
East Bay Athletic League, boys basketball, 1/31/12
