Solid Defensive Effort Propels Point Borough to Season Sweep over Jackson Liberty

Throughout the course of the 2011-2012 season, the Point Borough Panthers have stressed defensive principles day in and day out.

On Tuesday night, the stingy, hard-nosed Panthers played stellar defense from the opening tip off in a 57-43 victory over Jackson Liberty at Memorial Middle School Gymnasium in the Borough.

After what was a low-scoring, tightly-contested first quarter in which the Panthers only led by three, the second quarter was where Point Borough was able to assert their will on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.

“Coach has been stressing in practice, defense, defense, defense,” said senior center Alex Lorenz. “We wanted to come out and set a tone early.”

The Panthers outscored the Lions 18-7 in the game’s second quarter and were led on both ends of the floor by senior point guard Shaun Cooke and Lorenz.

The duo scored nine straight points which stretched a five-point advantage late in the quarter into a commanding fourteen-point, halftime lead.

Cooke’s ability to stretch the floor was very beneficial to his senior center, who was able to assert his will in the paint and was a force on the glass.

“Shaun’s a great player and we know he is going to be the team’s first priority,” said Lorenz. “I know if I do my job, and put myself in the right positions that there will be chances for me to score and help the team.”

The stifling defense forced Jackson Liberty into settling for long range jumpers, which led to easy baskets for Cooke and the Panthers.

“I’ve been trying to balance my scoring and of course getting everyone else on the team involved,” said Cooke.

Jackson Liberty was unable to find anyone specifically to help out on Lorenz down in the paint and the senior center was certainly able to take advantage.

The center scored 10 points and grabbed 13 boards.

For Lorenz, who has battled tendinitis in his shoulder the last two weeks, it was finally nice to be back at full strength for the Panthers.

“I’ve been beat up a bit the last couple of weeks,” said Lorenz. “I’ve been getting better and better and hopefully I’ll keep improving the next few games.”

Jackson Liberty cut the deficit to 9 points midway through the fourth quarter, but that was as close as the Lions would get in what turned out to be a lopsided Panthers win.

With the victory, Point Borough improved its record on the season to 10-5 and improved to second place in the Class C Central division.

“We feel we’re playing some of our best basketball of the season,” said Cooke. “Hopefully, this will be a sign of good things to come within the next few weeks.”