McNick outlasts Fenwick in triple overtime

Falcons battle back from 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit before falling.

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By Mark Schmetzer, Contributing Writer 2:48 AM Saturday, January 14, 2012

CINCINNATI — Something had to give when the Fenwick High School boys basketball team traveled to McNicholas on Friday night for a Greater Catholic League interdivisional matchup.

Both teams were riding three-game winning streaks; the Falcons after losing four straight and the Rockets after dropping five in a row.

Each team really wanted to keep its streak alive and McNick needed three overtimes before pulling out a 58-54 victory.

Fenwick coach Pat Kreke didn’t even try to find some silver lining in his team coming back from an 11-point halftime deficit in the fourth quarter and each of the first two overtimes before succumbing.

“These guys, in a half-year, have been through too much,” he said, pointing out a loss to St. Xavier on a last-second shot and a double-overtime win over Kettering Alter. “They have experience. We just didn’t execute at either end of the floor.”

McNicholas coach Tim Monahan wasn’t surprised to see Fenwick constantly fight back.

“They’re known for that,” Monahan said. “Pat does a great job. They play till the very end.”

Sophomore Frank Cartine scored 14 points to lead Fenwick (5-5, 1-5 GCL North), which was playing the first of three consecutive road games after five straight at home. The trips continue at Monroe on Tuesday and Dayton Carroll on Friday.

Senior Connor Ridge added 12 points, including a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to force the third overtime, and sophomore Kevin Christie added 12 for the Falcons.

McNicholas senior Drew Hall led both teams with 21 points, and the Rockets (5-5, 2-2 GCL Central) made 20-of-24 free throws, including 8-of-10 in the third overtime period.

McNicholas opened up a 22-11 halftime lead after limiting the Falcons to two points in the second quarter, matching their lowest-scoring quarter of the season. They also could manage only two in their 63-27 loss at La Salle on Dec. 9.

“We didn’t play the first half,” Kreke said. “That wasn’t totally the ballgame, but we came down here and decided not to play, and it put us in a hole. They did a nice job digging themselves out.”

Catrine and sophomore Jeff Klaas each scored four points in the third quarter to help Fenwick get back in the game.

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