Strickland paced a half-dozen Crusaders (12-3) in double-figures. Sophomore guard Lamar Brickus (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) scored 17, Zach Straining (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) added 13, and Akeem Washington (Lancaster, PA/McCaskey), Cornell Merricks (Philadelphia, PA/Norristown), and reserve Mike Brock (Royersford, PA/Spring Ford) each scored 10. Villa Julie junior Wade Henninger (Baltimore, MD/Eastern Tech) led the Mustangs (7-11) with 25, Mike Kastanakis (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall) scored 19, and sophomore Anthony Fitzgerald (Baltimore, MD/Polytechnic) scored 18 points to go with a game-high 15 rebounds.
Strickland and Straining hit back-to-back 3s to give Alvernia an early 16-9 lead, but Villa Julie stormed back led by four from Fitzgerald to eventually tie the game at 18-all before the Crusaders 13-3 streak. Brickus fueled the streak with three unanswered layups. Villa Julie pulled back to within seven, 39-32, with 2:53 left in the half, but 3s from Brickus and junior reserve Josh Gerloff (Shillington, PA/Governor Mifflin) helped the Crusaders to a 47-36 advantage at the break.
Straining opened the second half with a bucket and the Crusaders turned a block and three steals into a 10-0 run that put the hosts up 63-42 with 15:40 to go. Villa Julie had one last attempt to get back in the game with a 10-2 spurt, led by two 3s from Henninger, that closed the gap to 13 points with 13:51 to go, but the Crusaders closed the door with back-to-back 3s on their next two possessions.
Alvernia scored 35 points off turnovers and got 21 points from the bench. The Crusaders will return to Pennsylvania Athletic Conference action on Saturday when they travel to Wesley for a 4:00 p.m. game.
Villa Julie vs Alvernia College 1/21/04 7:00 pm at Physical Education Center At Physical Education Center ALVERNIA COLLEGE 96, VILLA JULIE 75 VILLA JULIE (7-11) Wade Henninger 9-16 3-5 25; Mike Kastanakis 8-11 3-4 19; Anthony Fitzgerald 9-18 0-4 18; Phillip Williams 1-1 2-2 5; Jake Ayers 1-2 2-2 4; Joseph Danik 1-2 0-0 2; Joshua Dickson 1-1 0-0 2; Vincent Rigatuso 0-1 0-0 0; Chris Warren 0-6 0-0 0. Totals 30-58 10-17 75. ALVERNIA COLLEGE (12-3 ent) Ray Strickland 7-11 8-9 25; Lamar Brickus 8-13 0-1 17; Zach Straining 6-12 0-0 13; Cornell Merricks 4-9 2-2 10; Mike Brock 3-7 3-4 10; Akeem Washington 5-7 0-2 10; Josh Gerloff 2-3 1-2 6; Alex West 1-4 0-1 3; Ryan Trupe 1-2 0-0 2; Steve Royles 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-69 14-21 96. Villa Julie................... 36 39 - 75 Alvernia College.............. 47 49 - 96 3-point goals-Villa Julie 5-15 (Wade Henninger 4-9; Phillip Williams 1-1; Anthony Fitzgerald 0-1; Jake Ayers 0-1; Chris Warren 0-2; Mike Kastanakis 0-1), Alvernia College 8-16 (Ray Strickland 3-3; Zach Straining 1-2; Mike Brock 1-2; Lamar Brickus 1-1; Alex West 1-2; Josh Gerloff 1-2; Ryan Trupe 0-1; Cornell Merricks 0-3). Fouled out--Villa Julie-Chris Warren, Alvernia College-None. Rebounds-Villa Julie 35 (Anthony Fitzgerald 15), Alvernia College 35 (Akeem Washington 9). Assists-Villa Julie 19 (Anthony Fitzgerald 6), Alvernia College 22 (Cornell Merricks 5). Total fouls-Villa Julie 18, Alvernia College 13. A-153