Pallotti vs St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes

Recap

By Darius Gordon

Pallotti came into the matchup determined to earn their first win of the tournament, led by  Greg Taylor. Taylor was tasked with setting the tone from the outset. Pallotti came out strong, using their speed in transition and applying full-court pressure on defense to disrupt St. Stephen’s rhythm. With 11:15 remaining in the first half, Pallotti held a narrow 10–7 lead in what was shaping up to be a physical, defensive battle. Both teams traded stops and tough buckets, with neither squad able to create significant separation. By halftime, Pallotti held a 34–26 advantage. Greg Taylor led the charge with 12 points, showing his two-way impact by snagging back-to-back steals late in the half. On the other side, St. Stephen’s struggled from deep, shooting just 14% from beyond the arc, a key reason for their early deficit. The second half, however, was a different story. St. Stephen’s came out with renewed intensity, quickly cutting into Pallotti’s 9-point lead with back-to-back threes. By the 10-minute mark, they had not only tied the game but taken a slim lead following an and-one conversion, going up 48–44. The momentum shifted in their favor as they ramped up defensive pressure and found their shooting touch. Pallotti responded with a fight of their own. Kemuel Dankyi drilled a clutch three to bring them within one point with under four minutes remaining. However, it was Julian Burgdolf who stole the show for St. Stephen’s. Burgdolf hit timely shots, including a massive three midway through the half, and showcased leadership in crunch time. In the end, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes held on for a gritty 65–63 comeback victory, overcoming a sluggish start with resilience and execution.

Notable Performances:

• Julian Burgdolf (SSSA): 24 points, 4 assists, 3 steals

• Greg Taylor (Pallotti): 20 points, 2 assists

St. Stephen’s showed poise under pressure, while Pallotti will look to bounce back stronger in their next outing after letting a key opportunity slip away.