Fast start propels Blue Devils by Tigers

ATTICA — A fast start often leads to success.Yet again, Carey got a quick start with an opponent chomping at the bit to attack.The Blue Devils scored the first seven points of the game, led by 17 points less than seven minutes in and got a game-high 20 points from Cade Crawford, topping Seneca East 72-54 in Northern 10 Athletic Conference action Thursday."We have that capability," Carey coach Jamie Young said. "We were able to turn Seneca East over early and get some easier buckets, but we were also hitting shots. When we come out and we get our shooters hitting like that and Cade is being aggressive, we are able to get to the hole."Crawford hit a 3 and scores from Landen Kemerley and Bryce Conti gave Carey (4-0 overall, 2-0 N10) a quick 7-0 lead less than two minutes in. Turner Bridgford hit a corner triple and Andrew Kalb scored for the Tigers (2-1, 0-1), but the Blue Devils answered with 3-pointers from Conti and Hayden Nash.After Kalb scored again for Seneca East, Carey broke the game open with 11 straight points. Crawford notched three tallies during the run and Ashton Hill nailed a triple as the Blue Devils took a 24-7 lead with 1:22 left in the opening quarter."We talked about it being a game of runs," first-year SE coach Michael Powers said. "Both teams are teams that like to play fast and like to shoot the ball. I think at one point it was 17-7 and instead of us weathering the storm, Carey kept on that run after our timeout. That got us off to a bad start."Carey led 26-11 after eight minutes and extended the margin to 20 points as Anthony Bell opened the second quarter scoring with a 3 before Crawford's shot made it 31-11.The margin reached 21 points at 37-16 when Crawford scored, but the Tigers finished the quarter strong. Bridgford connected on another 3 before a score from Kalb. On the other end, Conti answered with a driving layup, but Pieter Wise scored and made two free throws and Isaac Mason picked a steal and scored just before halftime. Just like that, Seneca East was within 39-27 at the break."I was so proud of my guys to end that second quarter," Powers said. "Carey went on that run and we had two options. We could let it get to 30 points at halftime or we could do what we did and got it to 12. We weathered the storm in that quarter."But, the Blue Devils got back to their tempo and frantic offense early in the third quarter. Crawford hit a 3 before scores from Kemerley and Bell made it 46-31. Bell scored again and an emphatic two-handed dunk by Conti gave Carey a 52-33 advantage with 3:31 left in the third quarter."That is what we were looking for," Young said. "We were looking to come out quick and try to get some good shots."The Blue Devils maintained that 19-point margin after three quarters, but built on it early in the final frame. Crawford opened the scoring with a triple before Hill nabbed a steal and drove in for the layup to make it 61-37. Free throw shooting woes concerned Young. Carey made just 5 of 12 attempts."It is always concerning because when it is a close game, if you can't make your free throws and the other team does, that's ballgame," Young said. "We practice it and it is one of those things. I wish I had a magic potion to give the kids."The Blue Devils average 76 points per game through four contests."We have a lot of kids that get out and run," Young said. "We can push the tempo. Defensively, we are getting more deflections and steals than we have in the past. We have a lot of grinders and we are hitting some shots. We are not shooting as high a percentage as I would like, but we are not afraid to take them."Kalb paced Seneca East with 18 points while Bridgford scored 11. The Tigers committed 18 turnovers."Carey is going to be at the top of our league," Powers said. "They are a very good team all around the board. Carey is a much tougher team than we had played."Bell and Conti both scored 11 points for Carey, which is back in action Saturday in a huge early-season conference showdown at home against Colonel Crawford (4-0, 2-0)."Any time you play Colonel, they are going to be well-coached and they are going to come out and execute," Young said of the Eagles. "You have to grind it out and you have to stop their runs. We have to make sure we are focused and ready to go."