Sophomore Bernie McGuinness scored 11 points in leading Guerin Catholic to a 48-44 Circle City Conference victory over Heritage Christian in boys basketball Friday night.
Guerin Catholic (3-3, 1-1 CCC) took the lead 6-5 on a Zach Munson basket in the first quarter, and never trailed after that. However after building a 31-19 lead late in the third quarter, Heritage Christian (3-3, 0-2 CCC) erupted on a 10-0 run before Luke Godfrey drained a 3-point shot to stop HC momentum. After the Godfrey shot the Golden Eagles methodically built the lead back up 11 points. Andrew Williams, who lead all scorers with 16 points, scored his team’s final nine points to get Heritage close at the end.
“Our defensive effort was good tonight,” said CG coach Pete Smith after the game. “We tried to push them out farther on the court in our zones, and we rebounded really well.” The Golden Eagles held a 30-19 rebounding edge, with Munson and Jack Hansen each grabbing 10 caroms, all at the defensive end. Normally the team’s leading scorer, Hansen was out of practice Thursday with illness, and came off the bench late in the first quarter. McGuinness started in his place and the move worked in GC’s favor. “Bernie is getting use to the speed of the varsity game more and more, and his comfort level is improving,” said Smith.
GC shot 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the field, and committed nine turnovers for the contest. As Smith referred to, Heritage Christian attempted 22 of their 43 shots for the game from 3-point range, and connected on only 37.2 percent (16-of-43). HC finished with only seven turnovers, which kept them close at the end. Six of the Golden Eagles nine turnovers though were in second half and allowed Heritage to cut into the lead.
Kian Sills passed out six assists and recorded two steals for Guerin Catholic, who plays at home Saturday night against Lafayette Jefferson, who’s coached by Smith’s former assistant, former Noblesville High School assistant Scott Radeker.
