Boys Basketball: St. Rita lays down the Law against Mount Carmel
By Tim O’Brien For Sun-Times Media January 31, 2012 10:26PM
St. Rita's Victor Law takes a jump shot against Mount Carmel on Tuesday. l Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 2, 2012 8:11AM
A sophomore starting on the varsity, St. Rita’s Victor Law has taken the coaching staff’s message to heart, especially in Tuesday’s game at Mount Carmel.
“Coach (Gary) DeCesare says ‘We’re not sophomores, just varsity players,’ ” Law said. “You can’t think of yourself as a sophomore so I think like I’m a senior.”
Dressing just eight players because of injuries and suspensions, St. Rita was dealt another blow in the third quarter when leading scorer Tony Hicks left after taking an inadvertent elbow that produced a cut over his right eye.
With a 23-point lead shrinking to 12, a Law three-pointer helped hold off a Mount Carmel charge and No. 7 St. Rita won 57-43 in the Catholic League crossover.
“With your best player in Tony going down, somebody has to step up, and it’s a team effort,” Law said. “I was just trying to make a play and whatever it takes to win. Making that three was a big part of the win.”
Hicks (16 points) and Law (13 points, 10 rebounds) led St. Rita (11-8, 7-1). Alex Austin scored 15 points and Billy Patterson had 11 for Mount Carmel (6-13, 3-5).
Law’s three-pointer with 3:06 left in the game was a momentum-changer for the Mustangs. Hicks left with 2:46 remaining in the third and St. Rita leading 44-23. The Mustangs offense then stalled with the team’s shooting star gone for the game.
The Caravan chipped away and after two Austin free throws with 6:20 left in the game, Mount Carmel trailed 46-34.
But on the team’s next four possessions, the Caravan couldn’t convert, missing three inside chances and a three-point attempt.
“Turnovers, missed free throws, it wasn’t any one thing,” Mount Carmel coach Mike Flaherty said. “Our margin for error was small, and when we don’t play hard, the margin is eliminated.”
With St. Rita leading 48-36, Law snapped the Mustangs’ scoreless streak, drilling a three-pointer from the corner to turn the tide.
St. Rita hit 4-of-5 free throws in the closing minutes.
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