The "scouting report" was informative, as it revealed that the Saints applied a relentless man-to-man press all over the court.  But it was a pressure defense that would give rise to scoring opportunities, especially on inbounds passes at mid-court.  Coach Tobolka made the "touchdown pass" famous last year in his D2 run to the championship*.  (*For those of you who attended Jesuit football games in 1977, you are fully aware that Coach Tobolka did not make the "touchdown pass" famous at any time during that season.)  Taking a page from Coach T's playbook, your Cats implemented the touchdown pass in practice this past week, hoping to get a couple of cheap baskets during the game.  As George W. Bush would say: "Mission Accomplished."

 

    The game began with a playoff atmosphere in the air and with a larger crowd than in most regular season games.  The crowd included a large contingency from the Hartnett family, including Andrew Crim's uncles, Jim and Jay, who are no strangers to big games, having been spectators at many of them over the years, including being "spectators" in just about every big game in which they were competing.  St. Elizabeth came out on fire early, and the boys knew that this game was not going to be easy.

 

    The Saints struck first, but as he does so often, Andrew scored the first points for SMS, swishing a 12-footer.  Quin Carroll followed with a bucket inside on the first of many assists from Tanner Davis, and we were tied at 4.  After a Saint 3, Jeffrey Ackels drove inside and made a sweet lay up, but another 3-pointer saw the Saints extend their lead to 10-6 late in the first quarter.  What followed over the next 10 minutes of game time, from the 2 minute mark in the first until the 4 minute mark of the third, was simply the most spectacular 10 minutes of basketball these boys have played in three years.

 

    Jordan Tobolka, who would deliver the best game of his life, took over.  A free throw and a put back on an offensive rebound made it 10-9.  Andrew then gave SMS its first lead of the game, ramming home a 3-pointer just before the first quarter horn, and SMS was on top 12-10.  They would never look back.

 

    As the second quarter started, SMS had possession on an inbound play at mid-court.  Tom Brady, er, Andrew Crim, called for the "touchdown pass" and it worked to perfection.  Tanner took off and easily beat the defender for a lay up and it was 14-10.  Andrew fed Jordan inside for two more.  Tanner made a patented steal and took it the length of the court for two.  Jordan took an inbounds pass the length of the floor for another lay up.  And Luis Estrada ended this first "run" with a swish from 8 feet.  Suddenly, it was 22-10, as SMS had gone on a 16-0 run in 4 minutes.  It didn't matter that the Saints scored the last 4 points of the quarter because the halftime lead of 22-14 would soon be much larger.

 

    The third quarter began exactly like the second, with Andrew hitting Jordan on another "touchdown."  Jordan got inside and took an assist from Tanner for a bucket.  Quin continued his impressive offensive rebounding, making one of two free throws after being fouled on a put back.  Another "touchdown," this time with Andrew on the inbound to Tanner, who found Jordan streaking to the hoop.  Jordan with another free throw.  Jeffrey back in the act with a beautiful driving lay in.  Ivan Maduka with yet another offensive rebound, making one of two free throws.  Joe Farmer doing the same, hitting one of two from the line.  Just like that, it was 34-14.  In the 10 minute stretch that was like no other, SMS had put the blitz on the Saints, going on an incredible 28-4 run that turned a 4 point deficit into a 20 point lead.

 

    Drew Lee and Michael Boone took over from there, each grabbing a handful of rebounds on both ends of the court to keep the Saints from mounting a serious comeback.  St. Elizabeth did show they would not quit, scoring the next 6 points to trim the lead to 34-20, but Jordan banked home two more and Jeffrey made a steal and hit Andrew on the outlet for an easy lay in and it was back to an 18 point game, 38-20, as the third quarter ended.

 

    The fourth quarter was all about running the clock out, but SMS (or "coach") did manage to make things interesting before it was over.  The Saints looked like the Aints no more, scoring the first 10 points in the fourth quarter to make it a 38-30 game.  But that would be the end of the line, as SMS scored the final 5 points, three from Jeffrey on a lay up and a free throw after a flagrant foul, and the final two coming on two more free throws from Jordan.  In the end, it added up to a 43-30 victory over the previously unbeaten Saints, propelling SMS into a tie for first.

 

    As exciting as Saturday's game was, you should have expected a let down for Sunday's game against the Christ the King Crusaders.  SMS came out sleepwalking, but did extend their lead each quarter.  It was 6-2 after one, 18-6 at half, 25-8 through three, and a 43-8 final.  The highlight of this game was that SMS achieved one of the rarest of fetes, watching as all ten, count 'em, ten, players scored during the game.  The amazing thing was SMS had 9 of their 10 players score between 1 and 4 points, an incredibly balanced attack that you won't find anywhere else.

 

    The roll call was Ivan for 4, including showing great touch on 2 of 4 free throws.  Luis for 4, as Luis continues to thrive inside and capitalize on scoring opportunities.  Quin for 4, swishing two outside shots with "rainbow" touch.  Andrew with 4 on 4-4 shooting from the free throw  line, all perfect swishes.  Tanner for 3, with one of two from the line, continuing to amaze in demonstrating how to dominate a game without scoring a lot of points.  Jeffrey with 3, swishing a 3-pointer late in the game.  Drew with 2 points, coming on a great inbounds pass and swish from 8 feet.  Michael with 2 on a beautiful lay in off the glass, just missing on a couple of more.  Joe with one point, on one of two from the line, but taking several shots that were all but in.  And, ho hum, Jordan with 16, giving him 34 points in the two games over the weekend, as he simply dominated inside both days, flashing the kind of game that will be sorely needed during the playoffs.

    The doubleheader sweep has SMS standing at 7-1 for the season, atop the division standings but with plenty of work to be done.  One area that needs work is the free throw shooting.  After a woeful 1 for 9 in the first half against the Saints, SMS came back with a 5-8 in the second half on Saturday and a 10-16 on Sunday.  The 15-24 free throw shooting in the last 6 quarters (62.5%) will be the kind of percentage necessary to win a playoff game.  Four games remain, including the season finale against POP that, at this point, looks to be the game that will decide who earns the critical number one seed come playoff time.  With SMS White's impressive victory over previously unbeaten and defending champ Parish Episcopal, SMS White stands alone as the only undefeated team in the league.  But SMS Blue is right where they want to be.  Now it's a matter of staying there come March.