By Tom Robinson, NEPABasketball.com
SCRANTON – Nick Nocito got Dallas out of a hole, then Austin Finarelli built a lead.
Michael Cumbo joined into the act in the second half, combining with Finarelli to make sure there would not be a comeback.
The trio combined to make 14 shots from 3-point range and score 73 points Saturday night while leading Dallas to a 77-58 victory at Scranton Prep in a meeting of teams listed among the top Big Schools in the My City Mortgage Super Six Power Rankings of District 2 teams.
“I think we did a great job,” Dallas coach Mark Belenski said. “I’m happy with the way we played, but it’s early.”
The points came in bursts after Scranton Prep started 5-for-7 to take an 11-5 lead.
Nocito had four 3-pointers and 14 points in the next 6½ minutes, culminating in consecutive 3-pointers that put Dallas ahead to stay with 5:49 left in the half. That flurry wrapped up with three 3s in 1:40 early in the second quarter.
Finarelli took it from there. He scored 17 points in 5:40, the last 15 of which packed into 4:20 when he hit four 3-pointers, then added a three-point play for a 40-28 lead with a minute left in the half. Finarelli went 6-for-6 in that stretch with the long-range shots supplemented by a drive and the inside basket where he drew contact.
Nocito and Finarelli form the four-year, backcourt combination that is a big reason Dallas is ranked No. 2 in the Super Six and was too much for No. 4 Scranton Prep.
“Nick started to hit shots, so they started to guard him, which left me open,” Finarelli said.
Cumbo gave Dallas a third scoring option in the second half. He scored 11 points in an 11-minute stretch beginning midway through the second quarter when Finarelli followed up a 3-pointer with a steal, but was unable to convert, only to have Cumbo slam home the rebound in one motion.
Finarelli was not done. He added 10 more points in 4:20 to fuel a late 20-9 run while Scranton Prep picked up the pace, trying to cut into a 14-point deficit.
Instead, Finarelli’s floater in the lane for his final basket produced the biggest lead at 77-52 with 42 seconds left.
Finarelli finished with 35 points, Nocito 22 and Cumbo 16 while each providing more.
“The more they get involved, the easier the game is going to become,” Belenski said of Nocito and Finarelli. “We got scoring from Cumbo, too. Now, we just have to get the other two going.”
Finarelli was 13-for-20 from the floor, 6-for-11 on 3-pointers and 3-for-4 on free throws. He also had five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Nocito also made six 3-pointers along with 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. He was ejected for a second technical foul with 1:49 left, meaning he will automatically miss Saturday’s game in Philadelphia against Boys Latin on a one-game suspension.
Cumbo, who made all four of his free throws, added an inside presence to his two 3-pointers. He grabbed nine rebounds and blocked three shots.
Their efforts led to a 28-point second quarter and 23-point fourth quarter.
While the scoring came from three players, Belenski said he was pleased with the depth the team showed while he used 10 players. Darius Wallace had four assists and Jackson Wydra came off the bench to grab four rebounds.
“We played a lot of guys,” Finarelli said. “We’re deep. Everyone stepped up and did what they had to do,”
Scranton Prep placed three scorers in double figures, including Robert Rossi whose double-double led a 44-34 rebounding advantage on a night when the teams combined to put up 129 shots, including 52 from 3-point range.
Rossi had 19 points and 15 rebounds. Noah Sorenson added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. James Pettinato had 11 points.
Andrew Ferguson chipped in with seven assists, five rebounds and three steals to go along with five points while Matt Cobb had eight points and six rebounds in the loss.
Dallas outscored Scranton Prep by 36 points from long range, going 14-for-37 on 3-pointers while the Cavaliers were 2-for-15.
