Published: January 05, 2006 12:22 am      

McCort stomps Carroll

Bishop McCort?s formula for success this season has been simple: Pete and repeat.

Senior forward Pete O?Connor, the Crushers leader on both ends of the floor, scored a team-high 18 points to lead host Bishop McCort to a 69-42 win over Bishop Carroll.

O?Connor has led or tied for the team lead in scoring in all nine of the Crushers? games this season.

?He?s been a real good leader for us,? Bishop McCort coach Patrick Hollern said. ?He?s just been playing at a high level. He gets it. He wants to win and knows how to win.?

The Crushers built a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, but the Huskies clamped down on O?Connor, who didn?t score until 6:35 in the second frame.

The 6-foot-4 slasher attacked the hoop and offensive boards throughout the first half, but was greeted by Huskies 6-7 center Jeff Minemyer almost every time he drove the lane.

?Minemyer?s a great player,? O?Connor said. ?I think some of us were adjusting our shots to his height and ability. In the second half, we just went strong and were able to finish.?

Trailing 30-18 at halftime, Bishop Carroll went on an 11-4 run to start the third quarter.

Just when it looked like the Huskies were in striking distance, the Crushers came surging back with a 13-2 run to close out the quarter.

O?Connor blocked a shot with less than 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter that led to a Matt Spangler layup and a foul. Spangler made a free throw to complete the 3-point play. On the ensuing inbound pass, Crushers guard Scott Lewis stole the ball and scored to give Bishop McCort a 16-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

O?Connor, who has averaged 23 points during Bishop McCort?s five-game winning streak, has also come up with timely defensive plays to ignite the Crushers.

?He leads are team in charges,? said Hollern. ?When your best player is taking charges, it makes it a lot easier to teach the other guys to step in there and take it.?

The Huskies lost the momentum and one of their players during the final minutes of the third quarter.

Bishop Carroll starter Luke Jensen was already sidelined due to an ankle injury when reserve Joey Shrift fell to the ground as Lewis made a layup in the waning seconds of the third quarter.

Shrift left the game with a deep cut above his eye and did not return as the Crushers built an insurmountable lead.

Minemyer had 17 points to lead the Huskies, and Spangler pitched in with 17 points for Bishop McCort.