Boys Basketball
For Crusaders, no glass ceiling
Shepski 3-pointer key as ‘Brother Rice is back, baby' with OT win over Marist
Brother Rice guard Mike Shepski didn't call glass.
It didn't matter.
The 6-foot senior's 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter Tuesday found the bottom of the net and tied the game against rival Marist 60-60.
The Crusaders had life. Four minutes later, they had the win. In front of a capacity crowd, Shepski and fellow senior Josh Niego combined for 10 of Brother Rice's 13 points in overtime for a 73-65 victory.
Shepski finished with a game-high 29 points for Brother Rice (16-3), while Niego added 26.
How competitive is this rivalry? The Crusaders now hold a 15-14 advantage in head-to-head meetings against Marist (19-1), which fell from the ranks of the unbeaten.
“The atmosphere was amazing,” Niego said. “It's a great rivalry.”
Shepski, who knocked down a 3-pointer from 25 feet in the fourth quarter, acknowledged he didn't intend to bank his tying basket off the backboard.
“I just threw up a prayer and it went in,” Shepski said. “I believe every shot is going in, but I didn't mean to bank it. I'm ecstatic it went in.”
Shepski's big 3-pointer had added significance beyond helping Brother Rice pull out the win. It was the 196th of his career, breaking Sean O'Reilly's school record.
“It's pretty special,” Shepski said.
The game was a seesaw affair from start to finish.
Niego scored the first five points in overtime to give the Crusaders a 65-60 lead. Marist, however, fought back and tied the game 65-65 on a steal and layup by Maurice Commander.
Niego then putting on a passing exhibition. The 6-4 senior drove the lane, anticipated pressure and fired a perfect pass under the basket to Josh Boulanger, who converted the layup and free throw after being fouled. Rice led 68-65 and never trailed again.
“I had to be ready to catch the ball,” Boulanger said. “I just went straight up as fast as I could to make the basket.”
Rice led by as many as nine points in the first half before settling for a 29-24 halftime lead.
Justin Brown had a monster performance for Marist, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds before fouling out in OT. Morgan Taylor added 20 points and Commander had 10.
Brendan Coghlan contributed 10 points for Brother Rice, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first half.
Crusaders coach Bobby Frasor wasn't surprised Shepski's shot went in.
“He makes tough shots and that was a tough one,” Frasor said. “He lives for moments like that. It was a great team win.”
Niego was emphatic the victory had greater significance than upending Marist.
“This is a signature win for us,” he said. “Brother Rice is back, baby.”
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