The Cardinals put the wraps on their nonconference schedule with a pair of contests against City rivals, St Stephens and Episcopal last week in Alexandria. Ireton split, with a lopsided win and a disappointing overtime defeat. One big factor in both contests was the presence of Ireton’s “Cardinal Crazies”. “Boy, those guys, they make a difference and their support on the road for us has been unbelieveable” commented Ireton’s Neil Berkman. “Their participation in our ballgames was the biggest surprise to me in this season so far, I love those Crazies enthusiasm, it makes a difference!”
BI got a great win on the road on Wed. Dec. 9 at St Stephens, St Agnes School. Junior Patrick Hanafin scored a game high 26 points on 9/13 shooting, including 4/6 from the 3 point line. Antonio Rouse chipped in with 17 points, including 10/12 from the charity stripe. Ireton was ahead by upwards of 20 in parts of the second half, but Saints rallied with 25 points in the 4th quarter. It was truly a team effort, according to Ireton head coach Neil Berkman as he emptied the bench in the contest.
The 3-1 Cardinals then visited the Maroon of Episcopal High School in Alexandria on Friday December 12th. It was a closely contested game with BI taking an eight point lead on a lay-up from Junior Antonio Rouse at the 2nd quasrter buzzer. The Cardinals struggled in the 3rd quarter scoring only 1 point in the first six and a half minutes.
The home team made a run but a resilient BI team fought back to trail by two in the waning seconds. Coach Berkman called timeout and sophomore Marcus Hayes hit an off balance jumper to tie the game. Episcopals’s ensuing jumper rimmed in and out at the buzzer to ensure overtime. BI ran out of gas in overtime with Episcopal prevailing by three, 54-51, in a close, hard fought game.
The Cardinals will next be in action to play the ESPN’s 7th ranked team in the country at DeMatha in Hyattsville, MD on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30.
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