JCA Receives Boost From Washington

Less than four minutes into the third quarter, Joliet Catholic Academy’s Shakar Washington scored on a backdoor layup off a perfect, pin-point pass from junior forward Ryan Peter.

This was it. This was the moment.

The Hillmen seemed to reverse a 22-16 halftime trend, starting with Washington’s drive and a 3-pointer by junior guard James Ragen. Washington’s layup moved JCA within a workable 25-23 deficit. And then?

“Turnovers,” said Washington, a junior guard from Washington Junior High. “We were not boxing out at all, there were a lot of weak-side rebounds on us, and long shots, long rebounds. We ended up taking a couple of shots there that were not good, and the turnovers — we just weren’t taking care of the ball.”

Put those aspects together — plus Bishop McNamara shooting 94.1 percent (16-of-17) from the foul line — and the Hilltoppers had a 53-40 East Suburban Catholic Conference loss in the Student Activity Center.

Both Washington and Ragen finished with a team-high 11 points for JCA (4-12, 0-4). Washington added 3 rebounds and 3 assists, while Ragen shot 4-of-6 overall, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and had 3 steals.

But Bishop Mac (12-8, 1-5) offset that with 21 points from senior swingman Jamar Rivera, who shot 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Junior center Michael Hoekstra contributed 16 points and 7 rebounds.

The biggest splinter, however, that erased JCA’s 14-13 lead through one quarter came courtesy of the boards. The Irish outrebounded the Hillmen 34-16, with a momentum-dragging 19-7 in the first half.

“And it’s a problem we have to keep on addressing,” JCA coach Joe Gura said. “I thought when we limited them to one shot and made them pass the ball around, especially after their opening spurt, there were spots where we played very good basketball. But we have to be able to sustain it.

“We missed layups and we missed opportunities, after playing pretty good defense, and eventually that is going to catch up with you. They have good height and a good scorer in their center Hoekstra. They have a very, very good player in Rivera, and when you hold them off, you have to cash in down here.”

Instead, JCA watched as Bishop Mac — the team Gura coached last winter — pulled away for a 39-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Threes by Ragen and Peter snuck JCA within 49-40 at 57.5 seconds left.

“Our threes kept us in the game,” said Washington, who along with junior guard Keith Craig, Ragen and Peter helped JCA hit 6-of-15. “When we ran our offense, like we did during the first quarter and the second quarter, I thought we did pretty well. But in the second half, we didn’t take care of the ball.”

Likewise, Bishop Mac took care of business at the line, clinching with four consecutive free throws.

“We had our opportunities,” Gura said. “But give credit to Coach (Justin) LaReau and Bishop Mac. They got the ball to Hoekstra and Rivera when they needed to and rebounds pushed the tide toward them.”

NOTES: Bishop McNamara barely outshot JCA, closing at 39.5 percent (17-of-43) to the Hilltoppers’ 38.5 (15-of-39) … The Hillmen edged the Irish from 3-point range at 40 percent to 21.4 (3-of-14), but only went 4-of-8 from the free-throw line … Junior center Sean Chamberlin came off the bench to lead JCA with 3 assists, tying with Washington … Craig paced the Hilltoppers with 4 rebounds … The Hillmen snapped a 7:43 scoreless streak in the first half when Craig buried a baseline drive with 1:38 left in the second quarter … Bishop Mac outscored JCA 9-2 in the second quarter and never trailed thereafter … Rivera scored 19 of his game-high 21 in the final three quarters … It was JCA’s second home game.