Fast start bodes well for SHP in WBAL boys hoops opener

It was a matchup between two teams who were back in action after long layoffs. One came out fired up, raring to go. The other came out looking rusty and cold, took a while to get it going.

Sacred Heart Prep jumped out to a 20-0 lead at the start of its West Bay Athletic League opener against Eastside Prep, and went on to a 68-51 victory Tuesday at SHP.

The Gators (6-2, 1-0) not only hadn’t played in 16 days, but were saddled during that time with the unpleasant memory of their last game, a 60-39 loss to local rival Menlo-Atherton. Consider the negative memories over and done with now.

Eastside (6-1, 0-1) could hardly have gotten off to a worse start, committing five turnovers, missing three shots from the floor and going 0 of 6 at the foul line while SHP built its 20-0 lead. But by the end of the first quarter the Panthers had closed to 23-11.

After a 20-20 second quarter it was 43-31 at halftime and looking like a real offensive show. But Eastside went cold again at the start of the third quarter. The Gators scored the first 11 points to go up by 23 at 54-31. 

The game appeared to be over and done with at that point, but once again Eastside rallied and cut its deficit to single digits at 56-47 early in the fourth quarter before Sacred Heart pulled away one more time.

Jai Deshpande had a great game for SHP, scoring 20 points in the first half and finishing with 28.

“He’s definitely gotten stronger,’’ SHP coach Tony Martinelli said. “The time he’s put in in the weight room has really helped his lower body get stronger. Now he finishes in traffic. He’s a hard guy to stop.’’

Charlie Selna added 15 for the Gators.

Million Jackson led Eastside with 12 points. Raymond Reece and Josh Libiran scored 10 points apiece.