Paul VI downs Shawnee with late burst

In a game of wild momentum swings, Ron Curry had his own ups and downs.

But like his team, the Paul VI junior guard ended on a high note.

After sitting out large segments of the game with foul trouble, Curry came off the bench to control the final three minutes and lead Paul VI to a 57-46 victory over Shawnee on Tuesday in a clash of two of the top three teams in South Jersey in The Inquirer Top 10.

The 6-foot-2 Curry had two assists, a steal, and six points as No. 3 Paul VI closed the game on a 12-0 run after No. 2 Shawnee had completed an astounding 23-1 surge to take a 44-42 lead with 3 minutes, 35 seconds to play.

"We had to win this game," Curry said. "We've been waiting for this game."

Curry and junior guard Kris O'Connor each scored 10, and senior swingman Rob Poole scored 13 and junior center Roosevelt Cubbage added 11 for Paul VI (7-0).

Senior forward Matt Chiusano scored 23 and senior guard Joe Bodnar added 12 for Shawnee (8-2).

Chiusano and Bodnar led a remarkable Shawnee rally that turned a 20-point deficit into a two-point lead.

"Our kids never quit, and I'm proud of them for that," Shawnee coach Joe Kessler said. "Not many teams could battle back from that deficit against that team."

Paul VI broke to a big lead thanks to a half-court trapping defense led by Curry, O'Connor, and senior guard Khaaliq Burroughs, who came off the bench to contribute eight points and three steals.

But Shawnee rallied as the Renegades began to get the ball inside to Chiusano, who scored 15 in the second half.

Shawnee went on a 19-0 run after Paul VI took a 41-21 lead. Bodnar's short jumper produced the home team's first lead, at 44-42.

But then Curry, who recently committed to James Madison University, seized command of the game. First, he fed Cubbage for a three-point play. After Chiusano's two free throws gave Shawnee a 46-45 lead, Curry hit a tough jumper off the move to give the Eagles the lead for good with just inside of three minutes left.

That started Paul VI on a game-closing, 12-0 run. Curry dished to Cubbage for another hoop in the surge, and also hit two free throws and made a steal and breakaway dunk for a 53-46 lead with 1:30 left.

"He's a guy we need to have on the floor," Paul VI coach Tony Devlin said.

Paul VI   13 16 12 16 – 57

Shawnee   11 6 15 14 – 46

P: Ron Curry 10, Kris O'Connor 10, Rob Poole 13, Andrew Famular 3, Roosevelt Cubbage 11, Khaaliq Burroughs 8, Matt Risse 2.

S: Ryan Bodnar 2, Joe Bodnar 12, Josh Borrelli 7, Matt Chiusano 23, Dan Kelleher 2.