Feb 8, 2007 By Kevin Harrison For The 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE TWP – Carmichaels took control of second place in Section 2-A, going on the road Wednesday night to beat Geibel Catholic, 67-46. The Mikes (6-3, 11-10) used a 17-6 run to close out the first quarter and break the game open. They never looked back.

“The kids are young and have their moments but we put together a good four quarters tonight,” Mikes coach Don Williams said. “We were able to beat their press for some easy lay-ups in the first quarter, which helped break the game open for us.”

The Mikes held an 8-5 lead before Matt Simkovic hit a three-pointer to ignite the run.

Robert Orange came back to score for Geibel (5-4, 8-10), making the score 11-7.

The Mikes then got consecutive baskets from Simkovic and Joby Lapkowicz, and Jeremy Ganocy hit two straight, giving Carmichaels a 19-7 lead. Lapkowicz hit two from the line, and Simkovic scored again before Josh Herman hit one of two from the foul line for Geibel, making the score 23-8.

Herman added a three for the Gators before Lapkowicz scored for the Mikes to end the period with the Mikes leading 25-11.

Carmichaels outscored the Gators 11-8 in the second quarter as Ganocy and Lapkowicz scored four points apiece, while Herman was the only player to generate any type of offense for the Gators, scoring seven as the Mikes led 36-19 at the half.

“Tonight was a total team effort in a bad way,” Gators coach Ken Misiak said. “We couldn’t shoot foul shots and we couldn’t generate any offense. We didn’t handle the ball well. The kids give me everything they can but we just make too many mistakes, and we’re very inconsistent in our play.”

The Mikes moved to a 20-point lead in the third quarter when Billy Hyatt and Ian McCombs scored goals and Ganocy hit a three to make the score 43-23.

Tyler Erdely came back with a score for the Gators, then Ganocy hit again for the Mikes. Orange hit one of two from the line, and Herman made two straight for Geibel, making the score 45-30.

Ganocy was fouled and hit two from the line. Herman scored again for the Gators, and then Simkovic hit two from the line, giving the Mikes a 49-32 lead after three.

In the fourth quarter, the Mikes put the game away, opening with an 11-2 run to take a 26-point lead at 60-34.

Orange scored for the Gators to open the quarter. Ganocy countered with a basket for the Mikes, and Hyatt followed that with a bucket.

Ganocy scored again and was fouled. He hit the free throw to complete the three-point play, making the score 56-34. Charles Gasti added two more four the Mike and Lapkowicz scored two from the line before Orange scored again for the Gators to break up the run.

From that point Williams started to substitute freely, clearing his bench to close out the game.

Two Mikes finished in double figures with Ganocy hitting for 20 and Lapkowicz scoring 17. Herman was the only Geibel player in double figures with a game-high 21.

“We work on a very aggressive man-to-man defense every day and the kids are starting to pick it up. I’m pleased with their effort tonight,” Williams said. “Geibel is a very tough place to play. It’s always good come in here and get a win.”