Boys Basketball: Fenwick celebrates Senior Night with big win
By Rick Behren Contributor February 4, 2012 10:26PM
2/4/12 Oak Park-Fenwicks Joshua Carlisle goes to the basket over Holy Trinitys Darius Douglas. Stacia Timonere/for Sun Times Media
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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:17PM
Senior Night couldn’t have turned out much better for three Fenwick basketball players.
The senior trio of Sam Ainsworth, Jeremy Gruszka and Patrick Moran combined for 34 points and 25 rebounds as Fenwick dominated inside during a 64-39 thrashing of Holy Trinity Saturday in Oak Park.
The Friars (6-12) outrebounded the Tigers (4-17) 26-7 in the first half and jumped out to a 30-11 halftime advantage, pulling down 50 rebounds to just 20 for Holy Trinity by game’s end.
Ainsworth and Gruszka each scored 14 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, while Moran popped in six points, had five rebounds and three assists.
“We wanted to make sure our seniors, who have given so much to our program for four years, were recognized,” Fenwick coach John Quinn said. “Pat Moran has never had a chance to start a game before and he’s been leader on and off the floor and in practice, and for him to have a great game tonight is fantastic. It was their time to shine and have some good moments, and all three did. This is the kind of game we can build on.”
Ainsworth scored the Friars’ first six points to put his squad ahead 6-4 at the 4 minute mark of the first quarter. Sophomores Tom Planek (6 points) and Keshaun Smith got in on the action off the bench as each scored four points to help stake Fenwick to a 14-6 lead after eight minutes.
After that point, the Friars proved to be just too much for the Tigers to handle inside as they went on a 14-2 run and built a 30-11 halftime cushion. Junior Josh Carlisle (7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) sprung to life with a pair of steals and seven points in the second quarter while Ainsworth added four and Gruszka swished a three-pointer.
The second half was more of the same as sophomore Scott Lindsey scored all four of his points in a two-second span in the third quarter with an offensive rebound and a basket followed by a steal and a hoop. Gruszka scored nine of his 14 in the third while Moran added four and made a nice dish to Daniel Dwyer (4 rebounds) for his only points of the game.
“It’s sad that it’s over,” Moran said. “I’ve had a great time with these guys since freshman year, and now hopefully we can make a run in the playoffs. It has been an honor to play with all of these guys.”
Joe Davis and Cortez James led Holy Trinity in scoring, each with nine points, while Khari Vaughn added six. George Rivera and Darius Douglas had five points apiece.
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