Big 1st Quarter Sets Braves Up for Conference Win

Post by Guerin Catholic’s Tommy Mascari
INDIANAPOLIS – Before a sell-out crowd in Sweitzer Gym, Guerin Catholic was beaten by the host Brebeuf Jesuit Braves 61-46 in boys basketball action Friday night.
The game between the Circle City Conference rivals started with a Zach Munson runner, followed by a Jack Hansen lay-in off a sweet screen from Clay Hepp, staking the Golden Eagles (9-6, 2-2 CCC) to a 4-0 lead. If the game could have ended then, the strong Guerin Catholic contingent in attendance would have been happy.
Sixteen straight points by Brebeuf off of five turnovers and six missed shots followed and it was the deciding stretch of the contest for Brebeuf (8-5, 1-0 CCC). Hansen scored on the quarter’s last possession to cut BJ’s lead to 16-6 at the break.
In a rugged second quarter Brebeuf outscored GC 9-4, with Hansen and Munson each getting a field goal as the team’s only points. Miami (Ohio) recruit Myja White had ten of his game-high 17 points at halftime.
Behind 8 points from Luke Godfrey in the third quarter, the Golden Eagles fought back from the 25-10 halftime deficit. Those were the junior’s only points in the contest. The Brebeuf lead was carved down to six at one time in the third quarter after an 8-0 GC run. However Simon Banks drilled a 3-pt. shot after that, and the Golden Eagles never got closer than eight points after Banks’ shot. GC missed four out of six free throws in the quarter to squander opportunites to get closer, especially after a technical on a Braves’ player.
For only the second time all season Guerin Catholic was beat on the boards, 36-29. Compounding that deficit were shooting woes Friday night, as the Golden Eagles shot only 38.5% from the field for the contest. “We were taught a lesson tonight“, said GC Coach Pete Smith afterwards. “Now we’ll see how we respond to the butt-whippin’ they put on us and learn from it, beginning Saturday night against Richmond. They (Brebeuf) were more physical, dictated us to take contested shots, and played a real solid game.”
Hansen finished with 14 points and 9 rebounds, while Munson grabbed 5 rebounds and had 12 points. Hepp had four assists.
Richmond comes to town Saturday night to take on the Golden Eagles for the IHSAA’s Champions Together event.