Men’s basketball went on the road Wednesday night to take on Sunset High School, home of the Apollos, in a Metro matchup that went very different from the first time around. The Crusaders had beaten Sunset by over 40 earlier this season, so there was a sense coming in that this would be another solid win. Things did not go that way.
Jesuit was without key player Sam Curvy, who was out sick. Even so, the team felt ready.
However, Sunset came out aggressive and confident. Shay Thompson, a long and athletic slasher, led the way with 26 points. Rocco Ebenal added 16, attacking the rim and playing physical all night.
For the Crusaders, Ryan Barone knocked down shots and finished with 16, and point guard Joe Stimpson added 14, helping control the pace and keep Jesuit within reach.
Still, the Apollos had the edge. Jesuit went into halftime down eight, and it was clear they needed to change things for the second half.
Whatever was said in the locker room worked. The Crusaders came out in the third quarter with more urgency and fought their way back to take the lead. The fourth quarter turned into a back and forth battle. Every possession mattered. Every stop mattered.
In the final seconds, it was Jesuit transfer Elliot Kilfoil who stepped to the line and calmly knocked down two huge free throws to seal the game for Sunset. It was a full circle moment for Kilfoil, facing his former team. When the buzzer sounded, Sunset students rushed the court.
The absence of Curvy was noticeable. His ability to bring the team together was missed. Senior Nick Zervis said, “Sam brings energy, length, and another scoring option.”
Ryan Barone kept it simple after the game.
“It was a tough loss. We battled without Sam, and we’re gonna use this loss to carry us through the rest of Metro.”
The Crusaders now travel to Mountainside tonight to face the Mavericks. With Curvy potentially back in the lineup, they will look to bounce back and get back on track in Metro play.
