Boys Basketball: Seton pushes pace, beats Rich Central

Updated: December 26, 2011 5:00PM

Seton upped the tempo and flew past Rich Central for a 88-71 victory Monday in the opening game of the 39th McDipper Tournament at Rich South high school.

The No. 4 Sting (12-0) used a trapping defense to speed up the tempo of the game and then wasted little time in taking a shot.

``We did control the tempo, but it’s not as fast we can go,’’ Seton coach Brandon Thomas said. ``It’s huge having Russell (Robinson Jr.) back there. He anchors our defense and blocks shots and steals the ball, too.’’

Robinson provided the exclamation mark to the deciding run of the game in the first quarter. The 6-9 senior rammed a left-handed jam down with less than a minute left in the first quarter. That basket capped an 8-0 run that gave the Sting a 20-12 lead. The Olympians (3-9) would never draw closer than seven points for the remainder of the game.

Robinson finished with 16 points and four steals. He was joined in double figures by Mark Weems Jr. with 16 points and Kamai Shasi, who scored 11.

Jalen Love led Rich Central with 16 and Jalen Thomas and Jamaal Murray each scored 10.

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