The REPORTER
The Guerin Catholic boys basketball team hadn’t played in eight days, but there was no rust on the Golden Eagles in their first-round sectional game.
Guerin Catholic beat Lebanon in a Wednesday contest for Class 3A Sectional 25 at Frankfort’s Case Arena. The No. 5-ranked Golden Eagles built a commanding lead through the first three quarters, then held off a comeback in the Tigers during the fourth period.
GC coach Bobby Allen said that his team’s composure in the midst of Lebanon’s run was “one of the best parts about tonight.” The coach said his team was “put in a pressure situation and it’s great they were exposed to that, because it’s going to happen again this weekend.”
Guerin Catholic led 23-16 after one quarter, with Bryson Cardinal and Malcolm Houze each scoring nine points. All of Houze’s points came from 3-pointers, with Cardinal making two 3s.
“He’s been in battles and he has the ability to change the landscape of a game,” Allen said of Houze. “It’s fun to have a starting quarterback in your starting five.”
The Golden Eagles led 40-24 at halftime. Jake Grissom was Guerin Catholic’s star in the second quarter, pouring in eight points.
GC enjoyed its largest lead in the third quarter, going up 50-27. The Tigers cut that lead to 51-33 by the end of the period, then put up 28 points in the fourth. But the Golden Eagles scored 22 in the fourth to stay ahead.
Free throws and balance
Free throws were a big part of Guerin Catholic’s fourth quarter, as it went 14 of 20 from the line. Hayden Rogers made 6 of 10 free throws, with RJ Hill going 4-for-4.
The Golden Eagles were remarkably balanced in scoring: Four different players scored 14 points. Cardinal, Houze and Grissom all reached that mark, as did Ryne Paris, who scored seven points in the fourth. GC drained 10 3-pointers in the contest, starting with four for Houze. Cardinal made three 3s.
Guerin Catholic had 16 team assists on 22 made baskets. Paris led with six assists, followed by Rogers with four. Houze made four steals.
The Golden Eagles are 21-4 and play Brebeuf Jesuit in Friday’s second semifinal at Frankfort, following the 6 p.m. first semifinal between Tri-West and Danville.
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