With most of its starters sitting on the bench in the first half for breaking team rules, the Northeast (2-4) boys basketball team didn't look like it belonged in last night's Bob Pascal Holiday Tournament at Chesapeake of Anne Arundel.
All except for Brian Mucci.
Mucci, a senior and spot starter, hit a school-record eight three-pointers, though the effort was not enough as the Eagles fell to Severna Park (2-4), 71-60, in the opening game of the tournament.
Mucci's 24 points led the Eagles.
The Falcons withstood a furious third-quarter rally to record the victory.
Severna Park will meet North County (2-3), a 65-46 winner over host Chesapeake (0-6), in tonight's final at 8.
"Brian is a great shooter," said Northeast coach Wayne Barbour.
"There were times last season when he looked like he would break out, but this is the first time he really has. I hope this can be a breakthrough game for him."
Mucci broke the school record of six threes in a game. That record had been shared by Steve Strauss (who did it twice in 1991) and Gene Pleyo (twice in 1992).
"I kind of thought I had broken it early in the fourth quarter, but I wasn't sure until coach Barbour told me after the game," said Mucci.
"I just wish we would have won. That would have made it more special."
The Falcons held Northeast to only 20 first-half points en route to a 35-20 halftime lead.
All but eight of those points came on shots by Mucci.
The Eagles stormed back in the second half, cutting the Falcons' lead to 47-43 at the end of the third quarter. It was as close as they would get, however.
"That's a big-time game," said Falcons coach Paul Pellicani of Mucci's effort. "They put on a good rally in the third quarter, and I like the way we held our composure."
Almost unnoticed in Mucci's heroics was the game Severna Park's Todd Batty produced. The senior came up with 32 points to pace the Falcons.
"He came to play tonight," said Pellicani of Batty. "Tonight he showed the kind of potential that makes him one of the better players in the county."
Pellicani said his team still has a long way to go. "We're young, and we have to learn to play all 32 minutes, not just the first 16," he said.
In the second game, North County built a 14-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back to move into the final.
The Knights were led by Tweety Barton and Cornelius Burley, who each scored 13 points.
Chesapeake was led by John Jennings' 13 points.
North County coach Brad Wilson says his Knights are headed in the right direction, but they aren't where they need to be yet.
"Our biggest problem is our defense," said Wilson. "We've been sending the other team to the line an average of 20 times per game, and that's really hurt us."
Wilson also said that the run-and gun style the Knights play suits his team well.
"We've got the athletes, but we have to learn to finish on the other end," he said. "We have to make smarter decisions with the ball."
Northeast (nine), Severna Park (three) and North County (seven) managed to combine for 19 three-pointers on the opening night of the tournament.
* Arundel 71, Central 57: Bakari Ward scored 24 points to pace visiting and No. 13 Arundel (5-1) past Central in the opening round of the Largo Christmas tournament. Kevin Higgins added 19 for the Wildcats. Kevin Flood led Central with 31. Arundel advanced to the championship game tonight, in which it will face Largo.