LaSalle’s three-point shooting too much for Crusaders to overcome

Posted: December 29th 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – The Wildwood Catholic High School boys basketball team couldn’t overcome an opponent that shot better than 50 percent from three-point range Thursday at the Boardwalk Basketball Classic.

LaSalle, of the Philadelphia Catholic League, made 11 of 21 three-point shots and rallied from a five-point deficit late in the third quarter to beat the Crusaders, 60-50, in a showcase game named for former Wildwood Catholic coach Dave DeWeese.

Wildwood Catholic held a 41-36 lead in the final seconds of the third period, before LaSalle’s Nick Parisi converted a layup attempt just before the buzzer. LaSalle then went on to outscore the Crusaders 21-9 in the fourth quarter.

LaSalle was 6 for 10 on three-point tries in the second half.

Parisi scored a game-high 21 points for the Explorers (5-4) before fouling out with three minutes to play. Liam Hawley and Luke Hudock each added 12 points.

Charlie Dunner hit four three-pointers and tallied 18 points to lead Wildwood Catholic (2-4). Nahseer Ruiz chipped in 16 points, getting 12 of them in the second half.

Wildwood Catholic shot just 6 for 15 from the free-throw line in the loss.

Wildwood Catholic is next in action in the final game of the 2023 Boardwalk Basketball Classic, taking on Lower Cape May on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Cape Atlantic Live YouTube and Facebook pages.