For the Brewers (10-6, 3-3 LL), ranked third in the Liberty League, it was a chance to prove that they belonged, The Brewers now find themselves in a four-way tie for third. Second-place Hamilton comes to town tomorrow fresh off a three-point defeat to Vassar travel-partner RPI, as the Brewers have another chance to show they belong and move into second place. Tip off against Hamilton is at 4pm.
Freshman phenom Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, CT/Southington), averaging 20 points per game in his last five games, finally met his match, in Hobart’s Joe Flacke (Schenectady, NY/ Schenectady), whose smothering defense forced the spindly forward into just three of seven from the field, for nine points. As has been made readily apparent in the last few weeks, Vassar’s star goes, so goes Vassar.
Will Byrne (Chelmsford, MA/Concord Academy) admirably filled Avitabile’s shoes, with five three-pointers and 19 points, but Vassar was outrebounded, outhustled, and outmuscled all night.
Vassar had no answer for Hobart’s inside bangers Flacke and Mike Mastro (Westbury, NY/ Jericho), who combined for 27 points and 17 rebounds on 11 of 17 shooting, and outside bombers Joe Virgilio (East Willliston, NY/Wheatley), Colby Feane (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport), and Mike Manning (Mastic, NY/ Center Moriches), with 38 points, 5 three-pointers, and 9 steals amongst them.
The Brewers made it interesting at the end of the second half, as Byrne hit a three-pointer followed by another three-pointer by Jud Winton (San Francisco, CA/ University). Avitabile hit the front end of a one-and-one to pull within seven, and Tyson Brazell (Salt Lake City, UT/ Waterford) grabbed an offensive rebound, but surrounded by giant Hobart bodies, threw the ball over the heads of his teammates into the backcourt for a violation.
Another three from Winton brought the lead back to seven with 3:32 remaining, but Hobart masterfully managed the remainder of the game, and made their free throws down the stretch for the final margin.
Byrne had game-high honors in scoring with 19, and Winton (4 steals) added 16 for Vassar. Feane (7 of 8 FT) led Hobart with 16 points, and Flacke (8 rebounds, 4 assists) added 15 points. Mastro (12 points) had the game-high with 9 rebounds, and Virgilio (5 steals) contributed 13 points.
Hobart owned the glass with 41 rebounds (15 offensive) to Vassar’s 34 (9 offensive). Hobart shot 45.6%, a scorching 54.2% in the second half. Vassar was a consistent 37.1% for the game, with only 29.2% from downtown.
Hobart College vs Vassar 01/28/05 8:00 p.m. at Poughkeepsie, NY HOBART COLLEGE 72, VASSAR 60 HOBART COLLEGE (9-6, 5-1) Colby Feane 4-11 7-8 16; Joe Flacke 5-10 5-9 15; Joe Virgilio 5-14 0-1 13; Mike Mastro 6-7 0-3 12; Mike Manning 4-10 0-1 9; Rob Genovese 1-2 1-1 3; Zack Stelzner 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-57 15-27 72. VASSAR (10-6, 3-3) Will Byrne 7-17 0-0 19; Judson Winton 7-16 0-0 16; Lawrence Avitabile 3-8 3-4 9; Seth Taft 2-10 2-3 6; Tyson Brazell 2-5 2-2 6; Kyle Dickmann 1-2 0-0 2; William Kieffer 1-2 0-0 2; Rob Dauster 0-1 0-0 0; Aldis Butler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-62 7-9 60. Hobart College................ 35 37 - 72 Vassar........................ 25 35 - 60 3-point goals-Hobart College 5-15 (Joe Virgilio 3-6; Mike Manning 1-3; Colby Feane 1-3; Rob Genovese 0-1; Zack Stelzner 0-2), Vassar 7-24 (Will Byrne 5-12; Judson Winton 2-5; Seth Taft 0-5; Tyson Brazell 0-1; Rob Dauster 0-1). Fouled out--Hobart College-None, Vassar-Lawrence Avitabile. Rebounds-Hobart College 41 (Mike Mastro 9), Vassar 34 (William Kieffer 8). Assists-Hobart College 14 (Joe Flacke 4), Vassar 12 (Seth Taft 4). Total fouls-Hobart College 16, Vassar 23. A-250