By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – In a close basketball game, one big play can change the momentum.
Imagine what three big plays in a row could do. Guerin Catholic’s boys made that a reality, as three consecutive big plays brought the Class 3A No. 3 Golden Eagles back from behind and on their way to a 55-48 win over Circle City Conference rival Roncalli Friday at the Eagles Nest.
The Royals were up 37-34 with seconds to go in the third quarter. But Bryson Cardinal made a 3-pointer at the period buzzer, and the Golden Eagles went into the fourth quarter tied at 37-37.
Seconds later, Cardinal converted a traditional three-point play to give GC a 40-37 lead. Then right after that, Dylan Murans blocked a Roncalli shot, which Robert Sorensen scooped up and took to the other end of the floor for a basket. Just like that, the Golden Eagles led 42-37 and never trailed again.
“Roncalli had a great game plan,” said Guerin Catholic coach Bobby Allen. “They tried to take Rob away and it affected us for a while. We weren’t playing aggressive early on, and we finally started attacking the basket, getting the ball at the elbows, in the paint where it needed to be, and our big guys started finishing for us in the second half.”
The teams traded runs early in the game. The Royals led 7-2 in the first quarter before GC rattled off six straight points for an 8-7 lead; Cardinal sandwiched layins between a Murans dunk.
Roncalli went on a 7-0 spurt to take a 14-8 lead in the second quarter. The Golden Eagles came right back with a 7-0 run. Murans made two baskets between a Sorensen and-1, and Guerin Catholic led 15-14. The Royals surged ahead 22-17 before GC tied the game at 22-22 by halftime.
Ryne Paris came off the bench to hit the game-tying 3 right before the break. He began the third quarter with another triple, and a third 3 pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 28-25.
“He simply had a great week of practice,” said Allen. “He earned the opportunity to be out there tonight.”
Roncalli jumped ahead 31-28 midway through the third and stayed in front until Guerin made what would be the game-defining surge to clinch the victory.
“As a team, we struggled in the first half versus what they were running,” said Cardinal. The junior said Allen “did a great job drawing up some plays in the locker room and telling us what we needed to do. We came out, executed and I think that’s what really helped us get the win.”
Cardinal scored seven points in the fourth quarter, with Sorensen adding five. Murans scored the final four points of the game, finishing with yet another dunk.
Four GC players reached double figures for the game, led by Cardinal’s 16 points; he also paced the rebounds with five. Murans scored 14 points, Sorensen had 12, and Paris added 11 points.
The Golden Eagles are 2-0 in conference play and 7-2 overall. Guerin Catholic is back in action next Friday at the Ray Furney Holiday Classic at Lawrenceburg; the Golden Eagles play Bethesda Christian at 3 p.m. that day, then take on the host Tigers at 7 p.m.
RONCALLI 55, GUERIN CATHOLIC 48
Guerin Catholic FG FT TP PF
Robert Sorensen 4-8 4-5 12 1
Andy Caron 1-3 0-2 2 2
Hayden Rodgers 0-0 0-0 0 1
Dylan Murans 5-9 4-4 14 2
Bryson Cardinal 5-10 5-5 16 2
Ryne Paris 4-6 0-0 11 1
Malcolm Houze 0-1 0-0 0 2
Totals 19-37 13-16 55 11
Score by Quarters
Roncalli 9 13 15 11 – 48
Guerin Catholic 8 14 15 18 – 55
Guerin Catholic 3-point shooting (4-11) Paris 3-4, Cardinal 1-3, Sorensen 0-1, Caron 0-1, Houze 0-1, Murans 0-1.
Guerin Catholic rebounds (19) Cardinal 5, Sorensen 4, Murans 4, Caron 2, Paris 2, Houze 1, team 1.