Furious Fourth-Quarter Rally Comes Up Short, Basketball Streak Ends at Four

Posted February 17, 2016 / Last updated February 17, 2016

Junior Hunt Conroy scored 11 points against Brother Martin on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Jesuit’s basketball team gave favored Brother Martin a scare, but the Crusaders withstood a furious fourth-quarter rally to emerge from the Birdcage with a 55-46 win on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

After building a 10-point lead heading into halftime, Brother Martin threatened to turn the game into a blowout in the third quarter, but two three-pointers by junior Collin Kulivan kept the Jays within striking distance.

Then, in the fourth quarter, junior Hunt Conroy went on a tear and the Jays cut the lead to as little as four at one point before Brother Martin put the game away.

It was the last home game for seniors Mark Beebe and Rob Weiss, who rarely laced up their sneakers at the same time this year. Beebe missed the first half of the season nursing a foot injury sustained in Jesuit’s last football game. About the time Beebe returned, Weiss went down with a foot injury of his own in a game against John Curtis. Both players played exceptionally well when healthy, with Weiss breaking the 30-point mark on more than one occasion and Beebe playing virtually turnover-free ball at point guard against much quicker defenders.

Beebe spent his last home game with the unglamorous assignment of shutting down Brother Martin’s Irv Smith, a prolific scorer and Alabama football signee. Smith finished the game with six points. Weiss, in only his second game back after more than a month on the sidelines, finished with 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Jesuit’s record now stands at 11-16 (6-5 in district), with one game remaining, a road contest against St. Augustine on Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Purple Knight gym. St. Augustine is looking to finish district play with an unblemished 12-0 record.

Even though the Jays are guaranteed to finish with at least a .500 record in the Catholic League, normally good enough to punch a ticket to the playoffs, their season will come to an end on Thursday night as playoff eligibility is now determined by a power ranking system. The Jays were 41st heading into Tuesday’s game. The Top 32 teams make the playoffs.

Galleries

Basketball vs. Brother Martin, Feb. 16, 2016

On Senior Night, senior Robert Weiss and his parents, Robert '87 and Martha, were honored before the game.
Cheerleading coach Jenny Johnston recognized the 2016 Jesuit senior cheerleaders Cassidy Colombo, Riley Reynolds, Madison Vernaci, and Sophia Caccioppo.
Junior Chris Beebe sets for a foul shot.
Junior Sam Ovella shoots for a long two.
Freshman Elijah Morgan takes the ball down court.
Senior Rob Weiss makes a free throw.
Junior Chris Beebe fights past the Crusader defense.
Junior Collin Kulivan takes a foul shot.
Junior Hunt Conroy takes it to the hoop.
On Senior Night, senior mark Beebe and his parents, Mark and Anne, were honored before the game.
Sophomore Michael Hull rises above the Crusaders for a basket.
Sophomore Michael Hull goes to the line.
Junior Hunt Conroy fights for a basket.
Junior Hunt Conroy led a fury.
Coach Chris Jennings works on a fourth-quarter strategy.
Junior Brendan Conroy's shot in the fourth quarter brought a foul and the Blue Jays to their feet.
Blue Jays cheer for a comeback in the fourth.
Junior Hunt Conroy waits to throw in the ball as Coach Jennings directs traffic.
Senior Robert Weiss goes up for two.
Senior Mark Beebe goes up for a shot in the final minutes of the game.