Junior High Boys Basketball: Crusaders bring home 2nd place Seventh Grade Class 1A State
Congratulations to the Crusaders!!

[February 12, 2019] 

The Carroll Catholic/New Holland-Middletown/Zion Lutheran Crusaders Boys Basketball Team brought home the second place trophy Monday night from the 2019 Seventh Grade Class 1A State Tournament in East Peoria.

The Crusaders lost in the championship game to Griggsville-Perry by a final of 27-22.

The Crusaders jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the Eagles with baskets by Darren Stevens and Owen Grant in the first quarter.

Michael Meyers would hit the first shot for the Eagles and this kid was just getting warmed up.

Baskets by Wade Lipcaman and Lane Lipcaman would complete the first quarter scoring and the Eagles were on top 6-4.

The second quarter was filled with in and out attempts by both teams up and down the court until finally the Eagles hit a three at the 2:42 mark to light the scoreboard up again. Myers scored that three that put the Eagles in front 9-4.

The Crusaders quickly answered with a field goal by Grant off the pass from Stevens.

But a couple quick threes from Myers gave the Eagles a 15-6 lead. This kid had a trio of impressive threes in the second quarter, all from long distance and nothing but net.

Porter Schwantz scored for the Crusaders with a minute left in the first half to make the score 15-8. After Myers failed to hit a three as the second quarter closed out, the score remained 15-8 at the half.

The Eagles did stretch the lead to 17-8 to start the third quarter but then the Crusaders came marching back.

After Stevens hit a free throw, Parker Graue connected for two points. Stevens would sink two more free throws at the 3:05 mark.

Then it was Peyton Schwantz with the basket to thrill the crowd as the Crusaders had pulled to within a 17-15 deficit with 2:34 left to play in the third quarter.

A quick basket at the other end by Wade Lipcaman stretched the lead to 19-15 but the Crusaders kept battling.

Stevens hit a shot in the lane and the Crusaders kept the score within winning distance 19-17 as the third quarter came to an end.

The final six minutes ticked away quickly for both teams, with the Eagles getting the first basket in the quarter.

Myers had been shut out in the third quarter but he wasn't about to let his team go down without a fight. A minute into the fourth quarter Myers tossed up a three and the bounce was good through the rim and the lead was extended to 22-17.

The game would then go the next three and a half minutes without a basket and both fan sections continued to sit on the edge of their seats.

The Crusaders' fans came flying off the bleachers when Jarrett Evers hit a corner three in front of the sea of red and the lead was cut to 22-20 with 1:15 left in the state championship game.

The Eagles, though, continued to hold the ball playing keep away to force the Crusaders into a position of fouling.

Dayne McCallister made good on his two free throws to extend the lead to 24-20.

Sadly, for the Crusaders each time down the court they just couldn't get the ball to fall through the hoop.

Lane Lipcaman and Myers would also hit free throws for the Eagles down the stretch and this extended the lead to 27-20.

Grant would finish out the scoring for the Crusaders and just like that it was 27-22 win by Griggsville-Perry.

Crusaders head coach Andy Fitzpatrick, in his seventh year coaching the team, was very proud of his players that brought home the second place finish. Fitzpatrick was especially pleased seeing how this team consistently improved throughout the season. Fitzpatrick knew coming in the battle with the undefeated Griggsville-Perry team would be a tough one. The coach also appreciated the support of the large fan base that is Carroll Catholic, New Holland-Middletown and Zion Lutheran Schools of Lincoln.

"We had a spectacular team and we had a spectacular crowd that followed us around," said Fitzpatrick. "I wouldn't have wanted to play this game without the group that we had. It was a great group. They got better week after week. This is the team that got the most improvement from week one to the end of the season since I've been coaching. It's very rewarding at that point. We put on a good show for the fans. We got close at the end. They had one kid who hit a couple of big shots early and it took us a while to recognize him. We knew coming into the game that he was their guy but, you know, for these kids to step up the way they did, I am very proud of them."

The Crusaders finish the 2018-19 season with a 20-4 record.

The Eagles took home the state championship with a perfect 29-0 season record.

Scoring

CCS/NH-M/ZLS 22

Darren Stevens 7
Owen Grant 6
Jarrett Evers 3
Parker Graue 2
Peyton Schwantz 2
Porter Schwantz 2

Griggsville-Perry 27

Michael Myers 16
Dayne McCallister 4
Wade Lipcaman 4
Lane Lipcaman 3

[Teena Lowery]