Greg Swiderski ’72
The St. Patrick basketball team is off to a 4-2 start over the first two weeks of the season.
The Shamrocks took home second place honors at the St. Patrick/Glenbrook North Tournament over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Mike Bailey’s coached team defeated Payton 59-38 in the first game of the season.
Leading at halftime 23-17, the Shamrocks up tempo found St. Pat’s ahead 42-27 after three quarters.
Timaris Brown led the Shamrocks in scoring with 14 points with Bryant Handley adding 10 points. Next up was the Niles West Wolves which the Shamrocks handily beat 66-30.
Sergio Rivera scored 13 points, Handley and Brandon Adorno each had 9 points.
The Shamrocks needed to get by De La Salle and did so with a solid 65-55 decision to make their record 3-0. Adorno (13pts.), Rivera (12 pts.) Handley (11 pts.) and Brown (11 pts.) all scored in double figures.
St. Pat’s fell to the host Spartans 49-43 for the championship. Tied at 23 at the halftime break, Glenbrook North pulled away by hitting 9 of 10 free throws in the 4th quarter.
Adorno and Brown who were both all-tournament selections scored 13 and 10 points. Rivera was also all-tournament.
This past Friday St. Viator came calling to start the East Suburban Catholic season.
The Shamrocks led 23-12 at halftime, 44-29 after three quarters before settling for a 60-46 win.
Brown paced St. Patrick with 23 points while Adorno had 10 points.
Sunday afternoon St. Patrick took on Yorkville Christian the top rated Class A team in Illinois.
Led by Jordan Schutt (23 pts,) and David Douglas (21 pts.), the Mustangs topped the Shamrocks 76-57. Yorkville Christian hit for 15 three point baskets.
St. Patrick fell behind 30-11 after the first quarter.
“We gave up a big first quarter,” said coach Bailey. “I like the way we fought back in the third quarter to cut the lead to 15 and we had the ball. But, we gave up two sloppy plays. Today was just a bigger stage for sone players.”
Brown scored 22 points and Handley had 17 points.
“Overall we share the ball well,” said Bailey. “Most of the time we have several players in double figures or around 9 points. What I like about this team is that we always fight to win.”
The Shamrocks jump back into action this weekend traveling to LaGrange Park to face Nazareth in conference play on Friday at 7 pm.
A short turnaround will find St. Patrick taking on Fenwick at Loyola in the annual ESCC/Catholic League showdown at 2 pm.
