Adam Denny missed a free throw.

Wednesday, January 12, 2000

Adam Denny missed a free throw.

That’s all Adam Denny did wrong in the first half of Tuesday’s game at Pacelli Gym, where Denny and Fillmore Central routed Lyle/Pacelli, 87-39.

Denny, a 6-foot, 5-inch Falcon, soared, scoring 20 first-half points en route to his season- and game-high 24.

By the second quarter, Denny had Fillmore Central (10-1, 4-0 in the Southeast Conference’s West) soaring.

The Lyle/Pacelli boys kept their wits about them while fighting to keep it close in a 17-9 first quarter.

But by the time Denny – a lean, run-the-floor post presence – blocked two shots to open the second quarter, there was no need for a post mortem. The cause of L/P’s demise was glaringly evident by the 41-19 halftime.

"We came unglued," L/P coach Gary Erlandson said. "No. 34 (Denny) swoops out of the rafters to block a shot and pretty soon we’re looking for it on every shot …

"He’s an aggressive ballplayer; a good ballplayer."

After the game, Denny deferred praise and attention to his teammates – a slick group of ballplayers adept at playing at a beat of 72 rpm.

"They set me up well inside by making good passes," said Denny, who didn’t deflect one personal query: "Explain your blocked shots."

"It gets me going," he said. "I see ’em go up and I try and time it."

Center Rick Dahly – another moves-well post player – also got the Falcons going, hitting four of the team’s five three pointers.

Philip Halback led L/P (3-7, 0-2 in the West Division of the SEC) scoring 14 points. Josh Kunze added a dozen.

Glenville-Emmons 34,

Lyle/Pacelli girls 33

Lyle/Pacelli’s five-game winning streak ended abruptly on the road on Tuesday, when Sheri Lair’s three-footer sank through the bucket with 0.3 seconds remaining in the game.

But one could argue that L/P’s end wasn’t a swift one, but a slow game-long demise. L/P hit just 8-of-26 free throws.

"That’s what hurt us most," L/P coach Steve Baumann said.

Tammy May led L/P with 15 points, followed by Laura Nelson’s eight, Jennifer Boisjolie’s six and Julie Rugg four.

Katie Erickson led G-E with 12.

L/P is now 5-6, 1-1 in the SEC West.