Banged-up Brother Rice stays unbeaten
By Drake Skleba
Brother Rice played without starting junior point guard Bobby Harmening (broken hand) then lost starting F Josh Creed (concussion) in the first half. The Crusaders still found a way to rally past Downers Grove South 51-42 in the first quarterfinal.
Rice was led by senior guards Matt Ziencina (13 points, five rebounds, two steals) and Pat Statham (14 points, six rebounds).
"This was a tough game. Downers South is a good club," said Ziencina. "I thought I played pretty well today. Coach (Richardson) had us well prepared for DGS. I am really looking forward to tomorrow's semifinal. It should be a great game."
Brother Rice (9-0) led 13-12 after one quarter and was ahead 18-14 midway through the second quarter when Creed (4 points, five rebounds, three blocks and steals) grabbed a rebound and crashed to the floor and banged his head.
A York trainer examined Creed and said he might have a slight concission. Richardson, playing it safe, kept Creed out the rest of the game. He may play tomorrow against LT.
Rice held on and took a 22-19 lead at the half.
Hickey scored six third-quarter points as the Crusaders opened up a 32-25 lead entering the fourth quarter.
In the final period Downers South (6-5) closed to 35-32 on a long-range bomb from junior G John Dillon.
Brother Rice put the game away with a 7-0 run led by Ziencina and Statham. Ziencina ripped the ball from a stunned Mustang and fired a perfect strike to Statham, whose lay up gave the Crusaders a 42-32 lead with 4:12 to go in the game.
"Downers Grove South was the best team we have played this year," said Statham. "I had to pick my game up and did a good job."
Brother Rice held a 51-37 lead with 1:33 left in the game. The Crusaders received a big boost off the bench from 6-foot-4 F John Hickey who tallied 12 points and hauled in five boards.
"We challenged the kids today,"said Brother Rice head coach Pat Richardson. "We played really well against a quality team.
"Matt played well in the fourth quarter. All the kids did a good job today. Our next opponent in this tournament is a very good team and we look forward to the challenge."
Downers Grove South was led by sophomore G Jamall Millison who scored 14 points and hauled down five rebounds. The Mustangs will meet Oswego (8-2) in a fifth-place semifinal game at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
