The MacArthur varsity boys basketball team has made an early statement in Conference AA-III by sweeping games at Calhoun on Dec. 16 and against Herricks three days later.
Eleven different players scored as the Generals built a sizable third-quarter lead and defeated Calhoun 60-44. Senior guard Jack Wall and junior forward Jared Wolfe each posted a career-high 10 points in the victory. Junior guard Brandan Acquavella produced his first career varsity point.
Against Herricks, the Generals used a 10-0 run to overcome a one-point third-quarter deficit en route to a 60-46 win. MacArthur (3-2, 2-1 league) received career-high scoring outbursts from senior forward Phil Carucci (18 points) and senior guard Dean Peluso (13 points). Senior guard Ryan Cunningham contributed 12 points.
With MacArthur trailing 34-33 in the third quarter, Cunningham’s free throw evened the score. Peluso followed by converting a three-point play during which he collected an offensive rebound, scored on the putback and was fouled.
Peluso’s jumper 30 seconds later gave MacArthur a 39-34 lead. Senior guard Brian Perez’s layup and Carucci’s lay-in off an inbounds play capped the 10-0 run, which came during a 1-minute, 56-second span.
MacArthur, which faces Island Trees and Sewanhaka during the holiday break, next plays at home on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 12:15 p.m. in a nonleague game against Cold Spring Harbor.
