If Saturday’s game between Bishop Diego and Villanova in the Cardinals’ tournament is any indication of what the Frontier League season will be like, it’s going to be a roller-coaster of a conference season.
The Cardinals led by as many as 25 points in the second half but got sloppy towards the end, finishing with a 65-61 win over the Wildcats in an exceptionally physical, hard-nosed matchup at the Brickhouse.
“I felt like they wanted to come out and send a little message and I think they did,” said Bishop Diego assistant coach Jim McCoy. “But I think our kids responded well and adjusted to it.”
Bishop Diego's Noah Tack goes up for a baby hook-shot in the second half.
Elias Muñoz scored 20 points to lead four Cardinals in double-figures. Brandon Gonzalez dropped in 14 while Paul Garcia and Noah Tack added 11. Tack patrolled the paint efficiently, and the junior continued to show that he’s made a big offseason jump in preparation of his first year as the team’s main-man down low.
“In the offseason I went to the YMCA and played every weekday for a couple of hours,” he said.
The Cardinals, who made an impressive run in the tournament last year thanks to lights-out shooting, are a much improved team this year as last year’s standout freshmen — including Garcia, Gonzalez and Muñoz — are a year more seasoned.
“We have more chemistry this year. We’re all good friends and we hang out off the court. I think that really helps,” said Tack.
Unselfishness has been a key thus far, and one play in particular during the second quarter, which the Cardinals won 23-11, illustrated it. With under a minute to go in the half, Garcia took an outlet pass and dished across the court to Alex Ramirez, who drew the defender before dishing right back across the paint to Garcia for a lay-up. It was a textbook fast-break.
The Cardinals trailed 17-11 early in the second quarter before scoring 12 unanswered, with Gonzalez scoring six straight in the middle of the run. Villanova’s coach became outraged at the officials during the stretch, using a couple of choice words for the referees while the gym was relatively quiet, drawing a technical.
Bodies were hitting the Brickhouse floor the entire game as both teams displayed an impressive willingness to sacrifice themselves. One Wildcat player unfortunately took an unintentional elbow to the jaw in the first half and was bleeding profusely before heading to the hospital.
Bishop Diego's Elias Muñoz goes up to try and swat a ball away.
An intentional foul by Villanova midway through the fourth quarter gave Bishop a pair of free throws. The Cardinals made one of the freebies to push the lead to 60-38 with about six minutes to play. The Wildcats closed out the game with a 23-5 run.
The Cardinals outscored the Wildcats 42-17 in the second and third quarters but lost the fourth 30-12.
“This is a young team, and sometimes young teams do that,” said McCoy of the let-up. “You could see the guys giggling and messing around a little after that intentional foul and they thought it was over. You’ve still gotta finish.”
McCoy said that lone senior Hayden Slaught has emerged as an emotional leader and is doing a nice job in that regard. He also said that the younger players have bright futures but are still making mistakes despite gaining confidence.
A 3-1 start to the season, however, with the only loss coming to defending CIF champion Besant Hill, is something they can certainly be pleased with.
BISHOP DIEGO 65, VILLANOVA 61
VILLANOVA — James 11, Hayden 1, Jon 7, Connor 13, Andrew 7, Brad 6, Michael 8, Charlie 1, Josh 5. Totals 25 7-17 61.
BISHOP DIEGO — Slaught 5, Garcia 11, Speier 2, Muñoz 20. Gonzalez 14, Tack 11, Ramirez 2. Totals 21 23-33 65.
Villanova…14 11 6 30 — 61
Bishop Diego…11 23 19 12 — 65
3-point goals — V 4. Total fouls — V 17, BD 19. Fouled out — None. Technicals — V Coach.
