Boys Basketball | Brother Rice tops Mount Carmel in CCL Blue battle
By Xavier Sanchez
Correspondent
No game seems too big for Brother Rice.
Looking to make a statement against Mount Carmel, the Crusaders used a fourth-quarter surge to open up a close game en route to a 69-59 win in front of a capacity crowd in Mount Greenwood on Feb. 9.
The loss was the Caravan’s first in the Chicago Catholic Blue this season, against six wins.
Holding a two-point lead after the three quarters, Rice began the fourth with a 12-4 run. Junior guard Marcos Gonzales scored seven of those points for the Crusaders.
“This team thrives in big games,” Rice coach Conte Stamas said.
Gonzales scored a team-high 20 points. Senior center Zavier Fitch scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“I think I started slow but in the second half I think I was a lot more aggressive and it showed,” Gonzales said.
Stamas noted the growth in Gonzales’ game.
“He got stronger in the off season, has developed into a strong leader, and he puts a lot of pressure in transition on the opponents defense,” Stamas said of Gonzales.
The Crusaders (26-3, 9-1 CCL Blue) and Caravan (26-4, 6-1 CCL Blue) each entered the Chicago Catholic Blue matchup as winners of five straight. The teams were well-matched through three quarters, with the first quarter ending tied at 15 and Rice up 30-29 at halftime.
Neither team held a lead greater than four points through three quarters. Crusaders guard Tyler Wooten hit a 3 with under a minute left in the third to give the Crusaders a 47-45 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Wooten is in his first season at Rice after transferring from Thornwood.
“He brings an athletic and explosive dimension to our team,” Stamas said.
Rice’s Caden Workman had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Cale Cosme finished with five points and six assists.
Angelo Ciarvino and Noah Mister each scored 17 points for the Caravan. Grant Best added 12 points.
Beating Mount Carmel was a big deal for the Crusaders, especially in front of a big crowd.
“The atmosphere was second to none, Gonzales said. “Obviously big rivalry games you want to play harder and go out and get a win in front of your home crowd.”
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