THE ST. DOMINIC’S eighth-grade boys basketball team beat host Holy Spirit, 41-40, to complete another undefeated season. This group of Knicks players went 42-0 over the past four seasons.

Down by two points to Holy Spirit in the waning seconds last Friday night, it looked like the dream of a fourth-consecutive undefeated season was all but finished for the group making up the St. Dominic’s eighth-grade boys basketball team. But the Knicks were only setting up a dramatic finish.

Patrick Dold did a crossover dribble just inside the arc, then stepped back and drilled a 3-pointer with 4.7 seconds left to give the Knicks a dramatic 41-40 victory in the season finale. The win gave St. Dominic’s a perfect 10-0 record this season and gave this particular group of Knicks a perfect 42-0 record over the past four seasons at St. Dominic’s.

“It was unbelievable,” Knicks head coach Luis Morales said of the dramatic finale. “They made it happen. It was magical.”

The game was close all night. St. Dominic’s had a slim 20-18 lead at halftime, only to see Holy Spirit rally back for a 27-24 lead. Charlie Rose kept the Knicks in it with several key baskets, and Luis Morales Jr, – the coach’s son – played well despite recovering from an illness.

But it was the St. Dominic’s defense that made the difference. Morales Jr., Nathan Olmes and Andrew Maichel clamped down on Holy Spirit’s top three players and the Knights had trouble scoring down the stretch.

“We had to sacrifice some of our top scorers to shut down their top scorers,” coach Morales noted. “We really concentrated on our defense. Everybody pitched in with something and had a good game. It was just a perfect example of teamwork.”

Knicks players include Morales Jr., Dold, Olmes, Maichel, Rose, Julian Argonza, Mathew McDaniels, Nolan Fey, Dominic Chin, Kirk Ruble, Alex Pappas and Craig Guila. Morales Jr. led the Knicks with 145 points this season. Argonza was second on the team in scoring with 49 points.

Friday’s win likely marked the last time this group will play basketball together as players move on to different high schools. Several Knicks play for coach Morales on the Bay Area Renegades club basketball team.

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