St. Viator came from behind...

...to defeat Benet last night, 71-68. After trailing since midway through the second quarter, the Lions regained the lead with less than a minute to go. Benet center Sean O'Mara, who had a game-high 39 points, missed two free throws with just seconds left to hand the Lions their 14th victory of the season. It was a great game! (Interestingly, the other game I considered, Fenwick at Loyola, was also decided late at the foul line.)

I had seen O'Mara at least twice before, against Whitney Young and Marian Catholic last year. But I don't remember him being as good as he was last night. The Benet senior was really a man among boys in St. Viator's gym.* To report that he had 39 points and 15 rebounds doesn't really tell how utterly dominant he was. At the risk of sounding uncharitable, if O'Mara had anyone playing with him Benet would be dangerous. (Did they graduate everyone from last year?) I bet he'll have a big career at Xavier.

St. Viator's team was a much more balanced one. In addition to Roosevelt Smart and Ore Arogundade, who had 23 points each, Patrick McNamara added 14. Also, Sal Cannella and Tom Martin, who both fouled out, had the thankless task of guarding O'Mara. I look forward to seeing these guys take on Loyola next Saturday.

P. S. A tip to anyone who's thinking of attending a game at St. Viator: If the person selling tickets asks if you're the "magic age," and you're wondering what in the heck that is, it's 60. And, no, I'm not that old yet.

* Although the gym is named after a Father Pat Cahill, it's housed within the Boler Multipurpose Athletic Center, named after a family prominent in autism circles.