Boys Basketball: Mount Carmel gives Flaherty win No. 700

• Reprints

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:16AM

Mount Carmel had to withstand a late rally by St. Laurence for coach Mike Flaherty to earn his 700th victory Friday night in Burbank.

The Caravan had to hold its breath as Jim Schick’s desperation shot from about 60 feet missed the rim as time expired, giving Mount Carmel a 58-55 Catholic League South victory.

The Vikings, who hit 11 three-pointers in the game, closed the fourth quarter with a 13-3 run. The Caravan missed five of its 10 free-throw attempts in the final period.

“We’re working hard,” Flaherty said. “It’s been a struggle for us.”

Alex Austin led Mount Carmel (6-12, 3-4) with 27 points, six rebounds and five steals. The guard scored eight of his team’s 12 fourth-quarter points.

“He’s been around a long time,” Austin said of Flaherty. “I just wanted to be part of history.”

Flaherty, who does not know how many career losses he has, is in his sixth year as Caravan coach. He coached at Mendel for nine years and Thornridge for 21 years.

“It’s more about the six games Mount Carmel has won this year than the other teams in the previous 35 years,” Flaherty said.

So what makes Flaherty such a special coach?

“He doesn’t have favorites,” Austin said. “Everyone is equal to him. He invests equal time with everyone.”

The Caravan built a 15-5 lead in the first quarter on an 11-0 run, with Billy Patterson contributing four points. The Vikings cut the deficit to two points on Ryan Risley’s three pointer with 6:41 left in the first half. The Caravan responded with a 13-2 run to re-establish the lead.

Risley and Schick each scored 16 points for St. Laurence (3-16, 1-6). Patterson scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds for the Caravan.