Antonine Hold Off Chabeb El Batroun, 89-83
Antonine held off a competitive Chabeb El Batroun squad to claim a hard-fought 89-83 D1M victory at Chabeb El Batroun on Saturday, November 22. Brian Halums led the charge for Antonine with a game-high 29 points and 8 rebounds. The lead changed hands 10 times before Antonine eventually pulled away for good.
Antonine took a 45-41 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antonine outscoring their opponents 24-17 to swing the momentum in their favor. Antonine closed the game strong with a 21-14 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. A. Fairly (Chabeb El Batroun) threw down a powerful dunk in the first quarter, one of 4 dunks in the game. S. Lindsey (Chabeb El Batroun) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter during a crucial stretch. E. Hanna was a force on the defensive end with 6 blocks.
Brian Halums was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 29 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists in 29 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-20 (45%) from the field, 1-of-4 (25%) from three-point range, 10-of-12 (83%) from the free-throw line. Miguel Martinez provided valuable support with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists. Mark Khoury also chipped in with 17 points off the starting lineup.
Antonine also generated 24 second-chance points and 23 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Antonine at 42% and Chabeb El Batroun at 41%. From beyond the arc, Antonine connected on 7-of-23 (30%) while Chabeb El Batroun managed just 10-of-33 (30%).
Antonine owned the paint with 48 points inside to Chabeb El Batroun's 34. Antonine's ball movement was superior with 21 assists to Chabeb El Batroun's 16. Antonine was in control for much of the game, putting together a 10-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Chabeb El Batroun put together a 12-0 run in the second quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Antonine answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Antonine came up clutch when it mattered most. B. Hulms nailed a clutch free throw with 00:07 remaining to help seal the victory.
In a losing effort, Anthony Fairley fought hard for Chabeb El Batroun, finishing with 21 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks. Scott Christopher Lindsey added 26 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.