After 16 lead changes and trailing 60-59, Guerin Catholic’s boys basketball team scored the final 16 points of the game to defeat Lafayette Central Catholic 75-60 Friday night at the Eagles Nest.
The victory marked the school’s 200th win in boys basketball in 299 games played. GC began playing varsity basketball and became IHSAA-eligible in the 2006-07 season with no seniors on the team. Central Catholic and the Golden Eagles first played for the Bishop’s Cup in the 2009-2010 season. The two high schools are the only Lafayette Diocese high schools, and with the victory Guerin Catholic leads the all-time series 7-2.
Despite Jack Hansen’s 14 first quarter points, Central Catholic (10-5) led 21-19 after the quarter break. A Zach Munson rebound basket at the end of the first half gave Guerin Catholic a 35-34 intermission advantage.
Guerin Catholic held a 59-54 lead entering the final quarter, but CC scored the first six points and after a Carson Barrett baseline basket, the Knights led 60-59. After that though it was all Guerin Catholic, sparked by a 1-3-1 half court trap in the final six minutes and great play off the bench by 6’4″ senior Drew Thieme, who scored six points and grabbed four rebounds during the 16-0 run the Golden Eagles finished on.
Munson and Hansen each finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds as the Golden Eagles (10-7) held a 37-32 rebound margin in winning their fifth straight against LCC. Luke Godfrey added 13 points, while Kian Sills added seven assists and blocked five shots. Guerin committed only seven turnovers in the fast-paced game compared to 13 for the Knights, and Coach Pete Smith also added that Clay Hepp was solid in handling the Knights’ pressure.
“Zach (Munson) played very well the second half, and Drew (Thieme) really was huge down the stretch.” said Smith after the game. “The fight we showed the final quarter tonight was a good sign moving ahead.”
The Golden Eagles return to action against parochial rival Scecina next Thursday night, followed by an afternoon game next Saturday against North Central’s Panthers. Both games are at Guerin Catholic.
Guerin Catholic 75, Lafayette Central Catholic 60
Guerin FG FT TP PF
Kian Sills 2-5 3-3 7 2
Clay Hepp 1-4 0-0 3 4
Luke Godfrey 4-13 2-3 13 2
Zach Munson 10-18 2-2 23 2
Jack Hansen 8-23 4-4 23 0
Bernie McGuinness 0-2 0-0 0 2
Drew Thieme 3-4 0-1 6 2
Roc Ricker 0-0 0-0 0 2
Matt Parenteau 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 28-69 11-13 75 16
Score by Quarters
LCC 21 13 20 6 – 60
Guerin 19 16 24 16 – 75
Guerin Catholic 3-point shooting (8-25) Godfrey 3-8, Hansen 3-7, Munson 1-3, Hepp 1-2, Sills 0-3, McGuinness 0-2.
Guerin Catholic rebounds (37) Munson 12, Hansen 12, Sills 4, Thieme 4, Hepp 3, McGuinness 1, team 1.