The Saint Patrick Varsity basketball team (18-10, 5-4) finished the season on an 8-game winning streak and will head into Regionals on their home court next Tuesday ranked #4.
The Shamrocks, who were already a young team coming into the season, overcame injuries to seniors Jakob Medina and Justin Walker and found a way to get better as the season went on. “I’m proud of our guys,” said Head Coach Mike Bailey, in his 25th season. “They overcame a lot of obstacles over the course of the season. We really only played with one senior all year and for our guys to overcome that really says a lot about them as people.”
Senior Austin Freeman led the team with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals per game and shot over 50% from the field. “Freeman is the engine that drives the car,” according to Bailey. “I don’t know if we’ve had a player that fills out the stat sheet the way he does in a long time. He affects the games in so many different ways.”
Bailey feels the team is playing their best basketball of the season at the right time and has a chance to do something special next week. “It’s always exciting around St. Pat’s this time of year, especially when we have the opportunity to win a Championship on our home court,” he added. “A lot of these guys have been playing on this court since 4th or 5th grade so it’s cool for the players and for the school.”
Saint Patrick will play #13 Foreman on Tuesday, February 26 at 6 pm. The winner will play in the Championship Game on Friday, March 1st at 7 pm. They’ll face the winner of the #5 Grayslake Central vs. #14 Northside College Prep game at 7:3o pm on Tuesday. All games will be played on Kurland Court at Saint Patrick High School. Tickets are $5 and no passes will be accepted.
For photos from the 40-38 ESCC conference win over Notre Dame on February 8th, click here.
