Brebeuf wins Act I against Guerin Catholic
There might have been a little trash talk in the group chat leading up to Brebeuf Jesuit’s showdown with Guerin Catholic on Friday night.
Nothing serious, though, between the top scorers from both teams. Brebeuf senior Evan Haywood and Guerin Catholic senior Robert Sorensen attended St. Pius X together from sixth grade to eighth grade, forming a friendship as teammates and now competitors on two of the top teams in the state in Class 3A.
“That’s what makes this game even more fun,” Haywood said. “Because it’s for bragging rights.”
Haywood will have the bragging rights in the group chat, at least for now. fourth-ranked Brebeuf Jesuit knocked off No. 2 Guerin Catholic 59-50 on Friday night in front of a packed house at Brebeuf. It is likely just the first of two games between the Circle City Conference rivals, who play in the same Sectional 27 field.
With that in mind, coach Allen Glunt corrected himself when he said Friday’s win felt great, downgrading it just slightly to “very good.”
“It’s top of mind with this group,” Glunt said of a potential rematch with Guerin. “We talked all week about how we went over there last year and won on the road in a game neither team got to 40 (a 38-35 win) and it didn’t do us any good. They got the best of us in the one that really, really matters.”
Guerin won the rematch last year in the sectional semifinal, 58-45, and rode the momentum all the way to the 3A state finals before falling in overtime to NorthWood. That scenario is certainly possible again this season for both teams, who are stacked with talent up and down the roster.
Guerin coach Bobby Allen did not believe Friday’s result came down to talent, however. “We got out-toughed the entire night, I felt like,” Allen said. “I thought we didn’t a decent enough job on Haywood, but that’s only part of it.”
Allen pointed out the six offensive rebounds from Javawn Brooks, who Haywood called the “MVP of the game.” Brooks finished with 19 points and six rebounds. When Guerin took its first lead of the game since the opening minutes late in the third quarter, Brooks was there for a putback and-1 to put Brebeuf back ahead 38-36, and the Braves never trailed again.
“Javawn just finds a way,” Glunt said. “A lot of it he does on his own. We’re so fortunate to have a guy like him on our roster who covers up deficiencies and creates stuff on his own. We’re entering the time of year now where it just has to be whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. I don’t care how many shots you make. I don’t care how many turnovers you have. You just have to find a way to win. (Brooks’) play tonight was the definition of ‘find a way to win.’”
Brebeuf (9-4) led by as many as nine points in the first half before taking a 26-20 lead into halftime. The lead again stretched to nine early in the third quarter before Guerin Catholic (12-5) chipped away and took the lead briefly at 36-35 on a Bryson Cardinal free throw with 1:28 left in the third.
The teams traded baskets for several minutes in the fourth quarter before Haywood pushed the lead to 50-44 on two free throws with 2:47 left. After a Guerin turnover, Brooks hit two more free throws for an eight-point Brebeuf lead and it was never in doubt from there.
Haywood, averaging 21.5 points coming into the game, finished with 14 points and three assists. He was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Brebeuf shot just 3-for-17 from the 3-point line, but made 20 free throws to just nine for Guerin.
Guerin was led by Cardinal’s 15 points and eight rebounds. Sorensen, averaging 16.4 points coming into the game, finished with 12 points and four rebounds before fouling out with 1:04 left. Dylan Murans added 11 points and seven rebounds and Jack Cherry had 10 points in his third game since returning from a broken leg.
Sorensen said he enjoys the battles against Haywood, his old St. Pius X teammate. Haywood has a few inches of height on old friend now.
“We were the same height up until eighth grade,” Sorensen said. “He’s been killing it ever since I’ve been playing with him. He’s always had the ‘go’ factor and it was just a matter of time for him. I’ve always enjoyed playing with him and going up against him.”
More than likely, Sorensen will get one more chance to face his old teammate. That potential game is weeks away, but on everyone’s mind leaving the Brebeuf gym and headed out into the cold on Friday night.
“We want to see them again,” Haywood said. “We want to make sure they know we’re coming different this year and we’re going for it all.”
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.