Guerin Catholic won its first sectional championship in six years on Saturday, triumphing at Class 3A Sectional 27 by beating Circle City Conference rival Brebeuf Jesuit 44-36 at the Lebanon’s Rosenstihl Gymnasium.
It was a close game throughout. The No. 6-ranked Golden Eagles led 10-6 after the first quarter before the Braves cut GC’s lead to 20-19 by halftime. Guerin Catholic had another solid defensive quarter in the third period, enabling it to lead 30-25 after three.
“There was some very physical play tonight,” said Golden Eagles coach Bobby Allen. “Both teams were prepared for what was going on each possession.”
Allen said his team was focused on Brebeuf’s two top players, Evan Altman and Billy Smith, with the Golden Eagles committed to forcing them “to take difficult shots and we succeeded in doing that tonight. Luckily, we had enough energy to get some buckets at the other end.”
Guerin Catholic held its largest lead, 39-30, in the fourth quarter. The Braves cut that lead to four before senior captain Joseph Bobilya made two free throws, then got a steal with 40 seconds to go.
“That iced the game for us,” said Allen.
Bobilya finished the game with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Kaleb Edwards added 14 points and blocked three shots, Allen said the senior also played “incredible defense” on Smith all night. Will Grissom collected seven rebounds and Matthew Gillis pulled six rebounds.
“Matthew Etchison came in off the bench and hit a huge 3-pointer, and took a charge in the fourth quarter,” said Allen.
Saturday’s sectional title was the fifth in the Golden Eagles’ program history. Guerin Catholic is now 19-3 and will play at the Greencastle regional next Saturday, taking on the host Tiger Cubs in the second semi-final. Greencastle won the Frankfort sectional by beating the host Hot Dogs 58-31.
GUERIN CATHOLIC 44, BREBEUF JESUIT 36
Guerin Catholic FG FT TP PF
Kaleb Edwards 5-8 4-6 14 5
Joseph Bobilya 5-9 2-4 15 1
Will Grissom 2-6 0-0 4 4
Jack Cherry 0-2 0-0 0 1
Matthew Gillis 3-8 1-3 7 4
Matthew Etchison 1-1 1-2 4 1
Garrett Kreiner 0-0 0-0 0 1
Elijah Edwards 0-0 0-0 0 2
Jack Parenteau 0-0 0-0 0 0
Patrick Baird 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 16-34 8-15 44 19
Score by Quarters
Brebeuf Jesuit 6 13 6 11 – 36
Guerin Catholic 10 10 10 14 – 44
Guerin Catholic 3-point shooting (4-10) Bobilya 3-5, Etchison 1-1, Grissom 0-2, K. Edwards 0-1, Cherry 0-1.
Guerin Catholic rebounds (24) Grissom 7, Gillis 6, K. Edwards 4, Bobilya 4, E. Edwards 1, Kreiner 1, Cherry 1.