LANCASTER - With the Jamestown Red Raiders struggling, their lone senior came to the rescue Tuesday night.
Tommy Campion poured in a career-high 31 points, including 21 in the second half, to lift the Red Raiders to a 64-54 basketball victory over St. Joe's in the Erie County Interscholastic Conference/Monsignor Martin Challenge at St. Mary's High School.
The win improves Jamestown, the third-ranked large school in Western New York, to 2-0 on the young season heading into its ECIC Division 1 opener on Friday at Orchard Park.
''It was a good early season test for us,'' Coach Ben Drake said. ''They did some things defensively that we weren't expecting and they hadn't shown early in the season. When you face things like that it was good for us to have that experience.''
Campion's experience was the difference.
All told, Campion shot 10-of-17 from the field, including 5-of-12 from the arc, but it was his play in the third quarter that propelled the Red Raiders to victory.
''He bailed us out tonight,'' Drake said.
After leading 19-10 after the first quarter, Jamestown's margin was cut to a point, 28-27, by halftime. Then the Marauders, ranked No. 5 in WNY, seized a 38-35 lead with three minutes left in the third period.
That's when Campion took over, scoring eight points during an 11-0 Jamestown run to end the quarter.
''We were able to get him the ball where he could operate with it a little bit,'' Drake said.
Armed with a 46-38 lead heading into the final period, the Red Raiders held St. Joe's at bay the rest of the way.
No other Jamestown player scored in double figures, but Branden Kellam, Quinn Lee Yaw and Stephen Carlson all grabbed five rebounds. Carlson added four assists, and Campion and Kellam had three steals apiece.
Louis Oliveri had 15 points to lead St. Joe's.
After Friday's game at Orchard Park, the Red Raiders have three home games next week, beginning with Clarence on Tuesday. On Dec. 21, they open their United Way Tip-Off Tournament against Bennett at 7:30 p.m. That will be preceded by Fredonia taking on Bishop Timon at 6 p.m. The consolation and championship games will follow at the same times on Dec. 22.
JAMESTOWN (64)
Campion 10 6 31, Panebianco 3 6 7, Carlson 3 1 7, Kellam 2 2 6, Lee Yaw 2 1 5, Frank 0 0 0, Colwell 0 2 2, McBride 0 0 0, Johnson 0 0 0, Hoaglund 0 0 0, Totals 20 18 64.
ST. JOE'S (54)
Morris 3 0 7, Hollins 1 1 3, Glover 2 1 5, Maher 2 2 6, Hall 3 2 8, Naples 1 0 2, Oliveri 7 1 15 Cerza 2 4 8, Totals 21 11 54.
3-point goals-Campion 5, Panebianco, Morris.
Jamestown 19 9 18 18 - 64
St. Joe's 10 17 11 16 - 54