Sports

Chaminade Basketball Takes Christmas Challenge from Xavier 52-47

Tournament MVP Mike Walsh sinks seven from line to help Flyers nail Knights.

The outcome of a basketball game will usually pivot on two things: fieldgoals and how you do at the line.

Mike Walsh had been here before – the previous day, in fact. Standing at the eastern line, pausing before putting one up against the backboard in the AAC.

Thursday Walsh, who regularly shoots 50 free throws in practice, had only sunk two against Roslyn, but enough for a 61-57 victory alongside the pair senior point guard John Gallego nailed earlier.

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Friday Walsh had seven to his name.

“Coach Quinn’s big thing is free throws and defense,” the Flyer forward said, garnering MVP honors for the Oceanside Christopher Christmas Challenge in Chaminade’s 52-47 win over Xavier.

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“We’ve been kinda putting an emphasis on defense lately,” Gallego said. “We’ve been kinda giving up too many rebounds so we put an emphasis on boxing out, getting out in transition and that’s how we came back.”

The Flyers had kept Xavier off the board a full 4:48 into the first quarter, keeping them to a mere 6 points. The Knights however rattled of a 5-0 run in the second en route to 17 as junior guard Thomas Ahern allowed a steal as the ball slipped away as he was in the corner.

“I think our defense slacked off a little bit. Halftime coach told us we’ve got to rebound, got to focus on the boards and that leads to good offense,” Walsh said.

Chaminade would spend the rest of the game fighting back, eventually tying it in the fourth.

“Last game was almost a carbon copy of this game,” Quinn said, referring to the Roslyn match. “Mike knows that I’m trying to tell him he’s a better offensive player than he gives himself credit for so I think he’s finally believing me.”

The 6’5” senior has had 27 points in his last two games and his first double-double of the year in the tournament with 14 rebounds.

Even more surprising was those stats have all come in the second half, most in the fourth quarter.

“I think that guys get tired, they start to hack a little and I have to focus on my free-throws,” Walsh said. “I’m trying to figure that out and when I do I’ll bring all four (quarters).”

1 2 3 4 F Xavier 6 17 13 11 47 Chaminade High School 9 7 15 19 52

 

Chaminade Scoring Statistics Player Position FGs 3PTs FTs Points Rebs Assts Patrick Farrell Forward 5 1 2 15 5 0 John Gallego Guard 5 0 2 12 0 6 Brian Ehrhardt Guard 0 3 1 10 0 0 Mike Walsh Forward 3 0 7 13 14 0 Tim Ahern Guard 0 0 2 2 0 0


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