Falcons get first-ever win against ‘Big 4’

Connor Ridge, Frank Catrine combine for 37 points to lead Fenwick.

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2:35 AM Wednesday, January 25, 2012

By Eric Hickey

Contributing Writer

MIDDLETOWN — The Greater Catholic League South Division has not been kind to the Fenwick High School boys basketball team over the years.

The Falcons had never notched a win over one of the big four Division I teams — Elder, La Salle, Moeller or St. Xavier — that make up the GCL South.

Until Tuesday night.

Senior Connor Ridge had a game-high 19 points and Frank Catrine added 18 as the Falcons thrilled a home crowd with a convincing 58-37 triumph over the Elder Panthers.

“Our first over the big four,” FHS coach Pat Kreke said while accepting congratulations from fans. “This feels really good. We have battled and battled, been there at the end, but never seemed to put it away. Tonight we did.”

Ridge carried the Falcons in the first half, nailing five treys, including two in the last minute as Fenwick overcame an early deficit to snare a 30-18 halftime lead.

“It was like throwing rocks in the ocean,” Ridge said. “Even that one before half, it felt like my worst shot, but it went in. It was just one of those nights when everything I shot went in.”

When Elder blanketed Ridge in the second half, Catrine took over, tallying 13 points.

Elder made a mini-run early in the third to cut the lead to 30-23, but Catrine had four quick points to spark a 22-5 Fenwick run that ended the third and started the fourth to put the game away.

“This feels wonderful,” said Ridge, emerging from a jubiliant locker room.

“We were talking about it today, how it would be nice to finally win over them, since we had never beat them.”

Fenwick, which improved to 7-6, 2-6 GCL North, nailed 17-of-35 shots from the field and 16-of-23 attempts from the line while outrebounding Elder 25-14.

“The biggest thing was our play in the second half, “Kreke said. “I told them before the game to match their intensity and toughness, and we did.

“Our problem has been folding in the second half, but tonight we didn’t. We put it away.”

Elder, which fell to 2-10, 1-5 GCL South, shot only 12-of-40 from the field and hit only 3-of-19 from beyond the arc.

Fenwick, which hit 8-of-16 from 3-point range, plays at Chaminade-Julienne on Friday night.

Thomas Mazza and Danny Murphy scored seven points apiece to lead the Panthers, who host Moeller on Friday night.

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