HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : Christian Wins With Piester on the Bench

The two players a basketball coach least wants to have sitting on the bench when his team is fighting for a crucial league victory are his center and his point guard. But in Tuesday’s City Harbor League matchup, Christian’s high-scoring center and St. Augustine’s point guard fouled out in the fourth quarter.

Christian center Dave Piester, who came in averaging 18.8 points a game, played just five minutes 45 seconds in the second half before he fouled out with 13 points and 2:21 remaining.

Matt Bonin, the Saints’ 5-foot-6 playmaker, spent just 3:27 on the court in the second half before he picked up his fifth foul with 5:34 remaining. Bonin finished with nine points, all in the first half.

But Christian without Piester proved to be too much for St. Augustine without Bonin. The Patriots took control early and stayed in control, winning 69-56. Christian improved to 12-4, 1-0 in the Harbor League; the Saints fell to 8-8, 0-2.

“There were two situations where (Bonin) was trying to help out on defense and he reached in,” St. Augustine Coach Jeff Armstrong said. “He got his hand caught in the cookie jar. That hurt us. When you lose your point guard, it takes away your punch.”

The Patriots got a lift from forward Chad DeGrenier, who finished with a game-high 18 points, and Vincent Clark, who had 16.

“That’s only the second time all year (Piester has) fouled out,” Christian Coach Randy Wright said. “He’s normally not in foul trouble. But I thought it was a pretty physical game and he got his fouls tonight.”

But Piester scored some key baskets in the final period, as St. Augustine cut a 16-point Christian lead down to eight. His biggest came shortly before he fouled out, as he slid into the key to take a pass from Titus Cites, sank a layup and was fouled.

Piester made the free-throw to complete a three-point play and build the Patriots’ lead back to 11. DeGrenier sealed the victory by hitting three consecutive baskets within the final 1:35.

“I don’t think we executed as well as we can,” Wright said. “We put the ball on the floor too much. But I was pleased with our kids. We played with a lot of emotion.”