Sackets Harbor boys wake up, beat Old Forge

SACKETS HARBOR — Zach Allen and his Sackets Harbor teammates learned a valuable lesson Friday night.

No matter what your record, your sectional seeding or your opponents’ record indicates, you can’t just show up and hope to win.

The unbeaten Patriots played a mediocre first half both offensively and defensively and allowed No. 8 seed Old Forge to stay within striking distance in a Section 3 Class D-2 quarterfinal. But when Jeff Robbins’ club turned up the defensive pressure and began attacking the hoop, the Eskimos had no answer as top-seeded Sackets Harbor pulled away for a 74-42 victory.

The Patriots (19-0), ranked No. 1 in the state in Class D, advanced to a D-2 semifinal next week against Frontier League “D’’ Division rival Lyme. That is a rematch of last year’s Class D semifinal where No. 3 Lyme upset No. 2 Sackets Harbor to advance to the sectional final.

That loss and the fact that Sackets Harbor needed a half to get going Friday will serve as instant motivation for the Patriots as they try to beat Lyme for the fourth time this season.

“We realize our defense starts everything,’’ said Allen, who scored nine points and dished out seven assists. “And that if we’re not into it like tonight in the first half, we can be beaten.’’

Sackets Harbor’s full-court pressure eventually wore down the Eskimos (7-12), allowing them just 14 second-half points, while Sackets Harbor scored 38 as the transition game hit full stride.

“We weren’t ready to play tough defense,’’ Robbins said. “That’s not us giving them open looks and easy shots near the basket. Once we decided to play defense, we got back to playing our style of game.’’

Senior Zach D’Alessandro hit seven 3-point field goals en route to 26 points for Sackets Harbor. He said the idea that “this could be his last game’’ was enough to spur the Patriots into playing better the second half.

“We know we can’t take teams for granted no matter what their record,’’ D’Alessandro said. “That we’ve got to play strong from the opening tip because every game from now on will be tougher.’’

Sackets Harbor led 19-14 after one quarter and 36-28 at halftime. It was only 42-30 midway through the third quarter when Old Forge’s Sam Waterbury, who had already scored 17 points, drew consecutive charging fouls and fouled out.

Sackets Harbor immediately took advantage of Waterbury’s absence to go on a 15-6 run to close the quarter, and built the lead to 30 points early in the fourth quarter.

“We knew their kid (Waterbury) had three fouls at halftime, and we did a good job of taking the charges,’’ Robbins said. “Our press was more effective the second half because we didn’t gamble as much and cut off the passing lanes.’’

Marshall Smith contributed 16 points for Sackets Harbor, while Cameron Allen had 10 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

Greg Hunkins added 13 points for Old Forge.

As for Lyme, Robbins knows that beating a team four times in one season is no easy task.

“They are a very good team, and obviously know us well,’’ Robbins said. “But I think tonight really helped us and showed us that we’re only a very good team if we play like that.’’