Shamrocks Set to Face Chargers for E.S.C.C. Title
Fbbruary 18, 2008

The Saint Patrick Shamrocks split a pair of games last weekend, dropping a 60-59 heartbreaker at Notre Dame on Friday night before destroying Niles West by a score of 77-47 at home on Saturday. The loss to Notre Dame sets up a winner-take-all showdown for the East Suburban Catholic Conference title with the Chargers of St. Joseph in Westchester this Friday night. Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph are tied atop the E.S.C.C. with identical 10-2 records. Earlier in the year, the Shamrocks beat the Chargers 48-46 in overtime in Chicago.

The Shamrocks headed into Niles to face Notre Dame on a seven game winning streak, having defeated the Dons in 17 of the previous 18 meetings between the traditional rivals. Saint Patrick scored the first five points of the game, and they held an 18-15 lead after one quarter. The Dons roared back with 19 second quarter points to take a 34-30 lead at the half. The Dons extended their lead to 11 points at 45-34 before a late Shamrock spurt made it 45-39 after three quarters. The Shamrocks opened the fourth quarter with a 7-1 run, which was capped when Jerome Robinson scored off a feed from Bradley Bruno to tie the game at 46 with 5:16 remaining in the game. Tim Traversa hit a pair of free throws to give Saint Patrick a 48-47 lead, but the Dons finished with a 13-8 run, before David Campbell’s late three-pointer made the final 60-59 in favor of the Dons. Campbell finished with a game-high 23 points, and Robinson added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Traversa chipped in with nine points, six rebounds and five assists. Notre Dame won the game at the free throw line. In an otherwise even game, the Dons attempted 26 free throws, compared to the Shamrocks’ 11, and Notre Dame outscored Saint Patrick 19-9 from the charity stripe.

The following night, the Shamrocks destroyed Niles West by a score of 77-47. The Shamrocks took a 20-6 lead in the first quarter, and they never looked back. Robinson led the way with a game-high 22 points and four rebounds. Campbell and Bryant Smith were the only other Shamrock to reach double figures as Campbell posted 14 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Smith added 10 points. Dan Geraghty, Marquez Brown and Bruno each contributed five points, while Joshua Whitaker, High Kimsey and Curtis Gilmore added four points apiece. Seniors: Whitaker, Robinson, Campbell, Bruno, Geraghty, Brown and Matt Geraty all played their final regular season home game for the Shamrocks, and they were honored before the game.

The Shamrocks are seeded tenth in the Maywood (Proviso East) Sectional of the Illinois High School Association’s Class 4A Boy’s Basketball Tournament. Saint Patrick will host the Chicago(Saint Patrick) Regional. The IHSA has changed the teams and schedule for the Regional. The corrected schedule for the entire Chicago (Saint Patrick) Regional is as follows:

Monday, February 25
Game 1 at 7:30 p.m.: (14) Chicago (Steinmetz) vs. (19) Chicago (Clemente)
Tuesday, February 26
Game 2 at 7:30 p.m.: (3) Chicago (De La Salle) vs. Winner Game 1
Wednesday, February 27
Game 3 at 7:30 p.m.: (6) Chicago (Lincoln Park) vs. (10) Chicago (St. Patrick)
Friday, February 29
Game 4 at 7:30 p.m.: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3