Gene Potter and the Jesuit Men’s basketball team accomplished something this season they haven’t been able to do since 2019: advance to Chiles Center. Jesuit will face off against the number one overall seed and arch rival Central Catholic Rams in a quarterfinal showdown with everything on the line.
The last time Potter and his team advanced to Chiles Center, they cut down the nets after winning a state championship and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent state history against a stacked Jefferson team. During Jesuit’s state championship run, they were not only outmatched talent wise, but also outsized by a Jefferson team that was full of division one caliber players including Lamar Washington and Marcus Tsohonis.
The Crusaders were able to hoist the state championship trophy because they made shots, blocked out and played sound on the defensive end. After covering Jesuit basketball throughout the 2024 season, I see many similarities between this season’s team and the 2019 state championship and believe that those three things will decide whether the Crusaders can pull off another huge upset.
The most important key to the Crusaders success: the three point shot. Throughout the season, Jesuit has both lived and died by the three. Some of the Crusaders biggest wins this season have been shouldered by impressive shooting performances.
Wins against Southridge, Mountainside, and Summit have all happened because of successful nights behind the arc. Patrick Kilfoil, Isaac Bongen, Hudson Rommel, and Ryan Barone can all let it fly and will all be key parts in Jesuit’s offensive efficiency. Tyler Curvy and Nico Rafalovich will both be vital as facilitators of the Crusader offense, creating spot up opportunities for players like Rommel and Barone.
When Rommel gets a few shots to fall, he can very quickly catch fire and when that happens, it adds a whole new dimension to Jesuit’s offensive attack. I expect Potter to put an emphasis on creating spot up opportunities and also making sure Kilfoil and Rafalovich know that they have the green light to create opportunities for themselves and their teammates.
The next key of the game could arguably be more important than three point shooting: Defense.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Defense wins championships?” Well that has never applied more to Crusaders than it does now. The biggest game of the season with stakes at an all time high against the most potent offense in all of Oregon, it is safe to say that a lock down defensive performance from the Crusaders is crucial.
Central Catholic’s offense is littered with offensive firepower with players including Oregon commit Isaac Carr, Pepperdine commit Marley Zeller and Zamir Paschal. Carr, who is the number 1 ranked player in Oregon and will join Dana Altman and the Ducks in 2025, is the most dangerous out of anyone on this loaded Rams roster. With a tall and athletic 6’3 build, Carr can shoot from range, get to the hoop and also protect the rim at a very high level.
It seems only fitting if Rafalovich takes on the challenging defensive assignment. He has been tasked with guarding opponents’ best players all season, marking guys like 5 star Koa Peat from Perry (AZ), Pearson Carmichael from Summit, and Jaden Steppe from Tualitan.
Rafalovich can defend premier players using his athleticism, high basketball IQ and 6’6 frame. Shutting down Carr and not allowing him to get going early could very well be a deciding factor of the game.
Rommel will also be important as the quarterback of the defense, making sure everyone is in the right spots. He also is the backbone of Jesuit’s rebounding game, boxing out at a very high level, allowing Rafalovich to grab a bulk of the rebounds.
Although the Crusaders have a goliath in front of them in the Rams, this Jesuit team has what it takes to get it done. If they can get the three point shot going early and limit Carr, we could very well witness another Jesuit vs Central classic.
The Crusaders are anchored by an impressive group of seniors in Rommel, Rafalovich, and Curvy and are led by an all time great coach in Gene Potter, who has been in similar situations and has a wealth of experience when it comes to winning big time games.
We will very shortly find out how the Crusaders compete on the big stage and if they can pull off an upset eerily similar to what we witnessed in 2019. No matter what happens, watching Jesuit and Central Catholic go head to head in any sport is always a pleasure.
The Game will take place on Wednesday, March 6 at 1:30 PM at the Chiles Center at the University of Portland.
