B.J. STANDLEY leaps through traffic in SPSV’s North Coast Section semifinal playoff game against Marin Catholic.

Playing at the Bruins Lair in front of a raucous home crowd wasn’t enough for the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High boys basketball team in Wednesday night’s North Coast Section Division IV semifinals.

The No. 2 seeded Bruins, who had lost only twice at home coming in, couldn’t stop No. 6 seed Marin Catholic down the stretch and fell to the visiting Wildcats, 77-65. It was the second year in a row SPSV lost in the NCS semifinals, leaving the Bruins stunned and disappointed.

“The difference was they just out-played us in every facet of the game,” SPSV head coach Derek Walker said of Marin Catholic (21-10), which advances to Saturday’s D-IV finals against No. 1 seed Cardinal Newman at Santa Rosa Junior College. “They beat us on the boards and attacked and got more free throws. They made all the winning plays and we couldn’t find it.”

The Bruins (22-9) had to play catch-up most of the night but closed to within 59-56 when Jack Gamba drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner with 4:28 remaining. SPSV, however, wouldn’t get another field goal until B.J. Standley hit a meaningless jumper with two seconds to play. Marin Catholic used precision free throw shooting and a solid inside game to slowly pull away over the final four minutes.

“We couldn’t get to the basket for some reason,” Walker complained. “Their length might have bothered us.”

Sophomore Tavian Henderson had another huge game with 34 points and six rebounds, but that was offset by the Wildcat trio of Charlie Duyson, Joey Calcaterra and Frankie Calcaterra, who combined for 63 of Marin Catholic’s 77 points.

“That’s way too many points to give up at this time of the year,” Walker said. “We knew who their main guys were, but their main guys stepped up and got it done.”

Marin Catholic got it done at the free throw line, making 32-of-36 attempts overall and 22-of-24 in the decisive second half. Andrew Panicacci killed SPSV with three 3-pointers in the final 13:30.

Henderson scored nine points in the first quarter as the Bruins took a 13-11 lead. Joey Calcaterra countered for Marin Catholic with nine points in the second quarter as the Wildcats took a 30-26 lead into the break. SPSV never got closer than two points the rest of the night and no Bruin other than Henderson scored in double figures.

Wednesday’s loss didn’t end the season for the Bruins, who get a second life next week in the Northern California Tournament.

“Hopefully we can figure out how to get it done next time,” Walker said.

Sharing is caring!