After a buzzer beating layup tied the game at 14 at the end of the first period. From there, he Burns and junior wingman George Lambert lead the Clippers to a 29-9 second quarter that gave them a 43-23 halftime advantage. The run included two triples and a long two point basket from Bernardi and an array of jumpers and drives by Burns that has become his trademark and helped him to a first-team all city caliber senior season. But while the Clippers shot extremely well during the one perhaps the key difference from the Clippers' home loss to the Stanners was the defense as Xaverian did a much better job contesting shots and keeping C.J. Davis and the other Stanner guards out of the lane.
Molloy, which welcomed back legendary coach Jack Curran after a two game absence with pneumonia made an adjustment as the second half began; going to a triangle-and-2 defense where they used the two chasers to guard Burns and Bernardi all over the floor. It lead to some sloppy play by the Clippers and some transition scoring for the Stanners. Forwards Marco Kozul and Morrell Gaskins, who finished with 11 points apiece for the Stanners provided the offense during the rally which brought the Stanners to within 7 points in the fourth quarter. But Lambert, who finished with 17 points of his own combined with Burns to close out a needed road win for the Clippers who seem to have gained some traction after a slow start to the league season. Christ the King and Hayes have established themselves at the top of the league but the number of good teams in the middle of the pack means that anything can happen as we come down the stretch and in the playoffs as teams like Xaverian, Molloy Holy Cross and Mount St. Michael's continue to get better the road to a championship for the league's elite will not be easy.
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