Gophers Can't Connect, Bow to Bobcats

Gophers Can't Connect, Bow to Bobcats

Team-High 11 Points, Eight Rebounds for Boswell

November 29, 2008

STEVENSON, Md. – Goucher's lone victory in the Provident Pride of Maryland Championship during the event's first three years of existence was over Frostburg St. in the opening round of the 2006 tournament. The two teams met for the first time since that game today in the consolation semifinals of the this year's tournament and this time the Bobcats prevailed, 64-56.

The Bobcats (2-1) never trailed the entire contest, but an early seven-point lead was reduced to 11-10 when Steve Musenga (Germantown, Md./Good Counsel) grabbed an offensive rebound and stuck it back in for Goucher with 12:17 remaining in the first half.

The Gophers, however, made only two more baskets the rest of the period. The first was a lay-up by Marcus Cotton (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) with 7:38 to go before halftime and then Darrin Boswell II (Nottingham, Md./Joppatowne) penetrated the lane and connected from about 12 feet with 2:34 showing on the clock. In between Musenga's follow and Boswell's leaner, head coach Leonard Trevino's squad went 1-for-10 from the field and committed four turnovers in a span of 9:43.

The first half ended with the Gophers (0-3) shooting 26.1 percent from the field and trailing 35-21.

The Bobcats, who last defeated Goucher back in 1993-94, expanded their lead to as many as 18 points in the second half and it wasn't until the final minute of play that the Gophers knocked their deficit to single digits.

Goucher's shooting improved only slight over the final 20 minutes as the Gophers went 9-for-33 (.273) from the field. They did enjoy a 41-37 advantage on the boards.

Frostburg's Blake Walker led all scorers as he produced 16 points. Boswell was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Gophers as he finished with 11 points and a game-high eight boards.