On Tuesday, February 10th, the men’s basketball team hosted the Sunset Apollos in a critical Metro League matchup. Last time the two teams played, Sunset’s Matthew Lohman hit a buzzer beater to beat the Crusaders, 62-61. The Crusaders have lost three of their last four Metro games, so a win against Sunset was a must.
Freshman Drake Walsh scored the first basket for Sunset, but that would be their only positive of the quarter. Jesuit’s tenacious defense led to multiple turnovers for the Apollos. The Crusaders could not hit a three in the first half, but a number of offensive rebounds, fast break layups, and pull-up jumpers gave them a comfortable 16-4 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Going into the second, Jesuit kept up their intense press defense, causing two steals within thirty seconds. Following the second steal, senior Ryan Fraser hit the first three-pointer of the game. Junior Joe Stimpson added to the scoring with a three of his own. The rest of the quarter saw Jesuit staying aggressive defensively, but several fouls put Sunset on the free-throw line. Nonetheless, the Crusaders ended the half on a positive note, leading 30-14.
The third quarter was very back and forth between the two teams, as each team made a couple of layups and three-pointers. Towards the end of the quarter, sophomores Isaac Bongen and Major Williams found the basket with ease, and Fraser hit another three-pointer, increasing Jesuit’s lead 48-30.
Jesuit started the fourth quarter off slow as they failed to score on multiple possessions. On the other side, Sunset was decreasing the Crusaders’s lead. Former Jesuit student, Lucas Paul, was on fire for the Apollos, hitting three three-pointers in a row. Walsh also made a layup, cutting the lead to seven. Jesuit’s Penny Harrison stopped the bleeding after he hit a pull-up jumpshot on the baseline. Sunset’s Paul and Lohman answered with back-to-back threes, but it was not enough to fend off the Crusaders. Jesuit escaped with a 63-52 win.
The win was crucial for the Crusaders, as they looked to beat Sunset after their tragic loss against them earlier in the year.
“It was super important to get a win last night, especially after the last time we played them. This was a game we’d had circled ever since we lost to them at their place, and it was an important game to maintain our ranking and standing in the metro league and the state playoff bracket” said Ryan Barone when asked about the impact of the game.
Looking towards the playoffs, the Crusaders know what they need to do to make a run to the Chiles Center.
“As we head into the playoffs, it’s about fine-tuning the details, staying disciplined, and making sure we’re coming out every game with the same intensity and aggression. We know what we’re capable of, and we’re excited to keep pushing forward” said Harrison.
