Pressure ‘D’ keys Kendall past Barker

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Evan Gaesser (21) puts up a shot as Barker’s Thomas Callaghan (22) tries for a block during the Eagles win over the host Raiders this evening.

A quick press sparked scoring burst to end the third quarter keyed Kendall to a 63-55 victory over host Barker this evening in a non league basketball game.

Barker, after trailing by as many as 10, rallied into what proved to be a brief 34-34 tie late in the third quarter on a burst of three straight threes, two by Nathan Luckman and one by Michael Snell.

However, Kendall answered right back with a short jumper by Nick Manners followed by two lightning quick turnovers off a sudden switch to an aggressive full court press resulting in back-to-back layups by Will Condo and Evan Gaesser. That burst regained a 41-34 lead for Kendall at the three-quarter mark, a lead the Eagles never relinquished.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Christopher Sweeney (3) drives against Kendall’s Colton Breslawski (25).

The teams traded scores throughout the final stanza as Kendall maintained a 6 to 10 point lead. Gaesser hit two jumpers and a three and Mookie Nauden added a jumper and four straight free throws to help the Eagles put a lock on the victory.

Nauden finished with 18 points, Gaesser 16, Condo 11, Colton Breslawski 10, Jacob Ramsdell 6 and Manners 2.

Luckman, who hit five threes, led Barker with 15 as Christopher Sweeney netted 13, Tristan Payne 8, Sean Benoit 6, Tanner Gregoire and Josh Mead 4 each and Thomas Callaghan 2.

Kendall jumped out to a 12-5 first quarter lead highlighted by threes by Gaesser and Condo.

The Eagles maintained an eight point ,23-15, advantage at the half as Nauden scored 7 in the second period.

Sweeney and Benoit both hit a pair of buckets during that stretch to keep Barker close.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Kendall’s Will Condo (24) looks to drive by Barker’s Sean Benoit (23) as Nick Manners (55) sets a pick.

A three by Gaesser, along with a pair of buckets by Breslawski, helped Kendall keep a 31-23 lead midway through the third period before Barker put together an 11-3 run, featuring the three straight threes by Luckman and Snell, to rally into a brief 34-34 tie.

However, the Raiders could not gain the lead as Kendall made the most of a quick switch to a full court press to key a 7-0 run as the Eagles regained the lead for good at 41-34 at the three-quarter mark.

Kendall is now 3-0 on the season while Barker is 0-1.

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Michael Snell (11) takes a shot over Kendall’s Nick Manners (55).