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SPARTANS TAME TIGERS WIN 72-45!
02/18/07
MIKE X 'S 2 KELLY-CLIFFORD LEAD THE WAY!
FRED MILLER
 The Mikes two timed the visiting Mexico Tigers last night to lead New Hartford to an impressive 72-45 win in the first round of the Section III playoffs. Mike Kelly and Mike Clifford scored 18 each to lead a well balanced offense to the round one win and helped set up a showdown with VVS on Tuesday night! VVS knocked off Cortland to advance. The Tigers showed up late and left early as New Hartford cruised to the win at home.
 
New Hartford 72-Mexico 45
Some one once said, " You live by the three, you die by the three". No truer words have been spoken when you break this one down.
My photographer, wife Jan, summed this game up on the way home last night. She had noticed that the Tigers hit a ton of three's during pre-game warm ups. She also pointed out to me that once New Hartford's guards got in the face of Mexico's perimeter shooters the game was over. You see what spending all this time with me gets you hon? Jan was right on and Mexico did indeed die by the three!
(Mexico looked good from deep in warm ups but cooled off come game time!)
(Spartans all pumped up and ready for action)
The two Mikes, Kelly and Clifford took turns getting hot at the right time to lead the home team into the second round of the playoffs. Alex Prue who got into early foul trouble chipped in 10 points. Ben Ariola was high man for Mexico with 13 points.
Andy Roemer got New Hartford on the board just :15 seconds into the game for a 2-0 lead. Mike Kelly stopped and popped to make it 4 zip.
 New Hartford coach John Randall told me before game time that coach Paul Callahan's flex offense was based on a three guard attack and that the Tigers would hoist up a ton of treys. Unfortunately for the visitors, only one of three sharp shooters was sharp from behind the arc, Ben Ariola. The other long range shooter of note Evan Oustrich canned a three, his only one of the game to make it 4-3 with just about two minutes gone in quarter number one.
(Mike Kelly guards against the three ball. Josh Moore is the shooter)
Alex Prue, who got into early foul trouble, hit two straight buckets to make it New Hartford 11-3 with 4:55 left in quarter one.
Two free throws by Ron Evans pushed the lead to double digits, 15-5, as the clock wound down inside three minutes in the first.
Another bucket by Kelly made it 19-9 Spartans after one!
(New Hartford's inside game was just too much for the smaller Tigers)
A Mike Clifford free throw made it 21-9 and the Spartans were on a roll, but hang on, here come the Tigers.
If you're a Mexico fan, pay attention. Your slick shooting guard # 10 Ben Ariola heats up to knock down three long range bombs to get the Tigers to within a deuce at 21-19 with 5:15 to go before the half. Ariola scored all 13 of his points in the second quarter. Live by the three, die by the three!
After a New Hartford timeout, the home team went on a tear of its own scoring six straight to regain the momentum. I should say Mike Kelly went on a tear, after all # 23 scored all six of those points for this team. New Hartford now led 29-19!
Another 3 by Ariola was answered by a 3 from Jeff Dunn to make it 32-22 NH with 1:55 to go until half time.
(Spartans look for more)
It started to rain threes as Andrew Steates knocked one down at the buzzer to end the half with New Hartford up 39-26.
The third quarter was owned by the home team. New Hartford outscored the visitors 18-7 to start to warm up the fat lady, who was more than willing to sing. Seven different Spartans got in the act as the lead ballooned to 26 big ones at 57-31.
(Ron Evans drives as New Hartford starts to put the game away)
The fourth quarter was played by New Hartford's reserves as coach John Randall called off the dogs and also got his bench some much needed post season experience.
Final Score New Hartford 72-Mexico 45
Offensive stars of the game!
New Hartford
Mike Kelly 18
Mike Clifford 18
Alex Prue 10
Ron Evans 7
Andrew Steates 5
Andy Roemer 4
Reggie German 4
Jeff Dunn 3
Alex Grimmer 1
Mexico
Ben Ariola 13
Zach Hudgins 6
Evan Oustrich 5
Troy Taylor 3
Chad Nearbin 3
Dan Lavery 2
Phil Haden 2
Dave Kinney 1
New Hartford Spartans (17-4) # 3 seed 72
VS
Mexico Tigers 6-11 # 13 seed 45
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