Future Heel's 3-pointers bury Alta

WEST VALLEY CITY — When members of this year's Alta basketball team are watching the 2005 NCAA tournament and they see North Carolina's J.R. Smith make a big 3-pointer, they'll be saying, "I know how that feels."

Smith hit three huge 3-pointers in the second half Saturday to lead St. Benedict's, N.J., to a 70-45 victory over Alta in the Smith's Ragu Classic at the E Center.

"You have to give them credit, they're a very good team," said Alta coach Dave Pimm. "I think they're a better team than we are, but we'll get better."

Despite all of St. Benedict's' greatness — which includes North Carolina signee Smith and UTEP signee Alex Galindo — the Hawks were right there early in the second half. The defending Class 5A state champ trailed only 32-24 at the half and managed to cut that deficit to 34-31 early in the third quarter.

That's when Smith took over. He buried a long-range 3 to put the Gray Bees ahead 37-31. A few possessions later, after St. Benedict's had extended its lead to 42-32, Smith hit back-to-back treys to seal the victory.

"We're a good team, and we expect to win," said St. Benedict's coach Danny Hurley, who played on Seton Hall's Final Four team in 1989. He then spent five years as an assistant at Rutgers before joining St. Benedict's three years ago.

"It's so fun to coach these kids. They don't have egos, and you're trying to get them into college," said Hurley.

Hurley doesn't have to worry about Smith getting noticed anymore. Smith has created a name for himself. He finished with a game-high 20 points Saturday as St. Benedict's finished the Smith's Ragu Classic with a 3-0 record. Jon Ezeokoli and Eugene Harvey each tallied 12 points, while Galindo chipped in with 10.

After eking out a victory over Timpview on Thursday, the Gray Bees crushed both Davis and Alta. Despite the seemingly easy wins, Hurley felt the trip to Utah was a learning experience.

"This was the first point of the season we've dealt with adversity," said Hurley, who said the altitude really affected his team. "The style of officiating was an adjustment. We're used to playing real athletic teams."

Under better circumstances, Alta might've been able to compete with St. Benedict's all four quarters. Starting point guard Blake Boardman and center Devin Matagi are both nursing injuries, and their athleticism was sorely missed.

"The outcome would've been different, but I don't know if the W would've been there," said Pimm.

With those two on the court, perhaps St. Benedict's wouldn't have closed the game on a 36-14 run.

Alta will take the next 10 days off to prepare for Layton. St. Benedict's, meanwhile, will return to New Jersey in hopes of winning a third-straight state championship.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com