Providence Gets Old-Fashioned Victory, 55-50

Providence High won a boys’ basketball game Tuesday night not because of a new-fangled defense or run-and-gun offense, but by dusting off a couple relics, free-throw shooting and defense.

Derek Jones made nine of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter and the Pioneers clamped down defensively in the final minutes of a 55-50 victory over Buckley in a Liberty League game at Buckley.

Perhaps sensing the importance free throws would play, Jones, a 61% shooter from the line, shot several at home earlier in the day.

He finished with 25 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots. He had 15 points in the fourth quarter.

“He definitely won the game for us,� Providence Coach Paolo Velsaco said. “He had a great stroke [Tuesday night] from the line.�

Not to be forgotten was the Providence defense, which stymied Buckley during a 13-2 run in the final 3:36 and propelled the Pioneers (13-6, 9-1 in league play) to a half-game lead over Buckley (17-2, 8-1).

Royal Weaver scored 17 points and Colin Ward-Henninger added 14 for Buckley, which took a 48-42 lead on Weaver’s jumper but scored only two points the rest of the way.

Buckley’s defense was the first-half story, holding Providence to only 15 points, but the Griffins made only 13 of 43 shots (30.2%) in the second half.

Jones, on the other hand, made five of eight shots in the same time frame. And he hit his free throws.

“It’s something I always keep in the back on my mind . . . free throws are important,� he said. “When you get down to a situation like that, you have to make them count.

“This is definitely a big win. It’s the first of about four more we need to get.�

Said Buckley Coach Dan Haasch: “Jones scored as many points in the fourth quarter as we gave up the whole first half. All we know is there’s a lot more basketball to be played.�

The teams meet again Monday at Providence.