It was a long time coming for Coach Neil Berkman and his young, hard working team, but after some close calls they weathered a late run to top Archbishop Carroll 49-41 Sunday in Father Godley Gymnasium, for their first WCAC win of the 2014-15 campaign.
“It was a team win, great effort all around.” commented the Cardinals’ Neil Berkman. After a slow start the clubs traded baskets as they ended one period of play deadlocked at 10-10.
The Cardinals started to get some traction offensively and controlled the boards to pull out to a 22-17 advantage at the intermission.
Berkman obviously said the right things to the club at halftime and Ireton came out with an 18-point third quarter and sat squarely on a 12-point cushion as the teams moved the final period.
Carroll wasn’t prepared to go quietly however , and promptly launched a 7-1 run to start the fourth, closing the gap to 41-35, as the Cardinal faithful began to shift nervously in their seats.
Jeremy Gaullaud steadily the ship for the Cardinals with key rebounds and a put back that pushed the Lions when they were close to making a final run. As time became a factor, the Carroll shots wouldn’t fall and Jamie Pasha, Chase Hill, Gaullaud, and the Cardinals snatched defensive rebounds which helped steal away the remaining minutes to secure the win.
Once again, junior Nick Schmelzer led the Cardinals with a game-high 12 points, the only player to reach double figures. Gaullaud and Hines each had 8, Pasha chipped in 7, and Quintin Gilcrest added 6. Cameron Carter and Nicholas Fennell each had 9 to lead the Lions.
Bishop Ireton wraps up the home portion of their regular season with dates at St Mary’s Ryken on Tuesday and Good Counsel in the season finale on Friday. WCAC first round playoffs begin Thursday, February 19th. The Cardinals, currently a 10 seed, would travel to the 7th seed and the winner would advance on Saturday to face the number 2 seed at Gallaudet University.