Bishop Kenny Edges Out Stanton

Fabrizio Gowdy | Jan. 31st, 2020 | Sports

The Bishop Kenny High School Crusaders varsity boys basketball team defeated the Stanton College Preparatory School Blue Devils 67-58 at Stanton Wednesday night. 

"In past years, we've struggled against them, but this year, we stayed with them and battled them the whole game,” said Stanton head Coach Rob Burnett.

Ranked 65th in the state and having won every game of the new year, the visiting Crusaders were heavily favored coming in. The  game remained close for much of the first half, with three ties and four lead changes in the first quarter. Stanton hung with Bishop Kenny, who led by just three going into the second quarter.

“Our first half was really good, until the last three minutes,” said Coach Burnett.

After taking a four point lead early in the second quarter, the Blue Devils struggled on offense. A slew of Stanton turnovers led to a 13-2 Bishop Kenny run, giving the Crusaders a 34-25 lead at the half.

“That's where we kind of lost the game. We had some bad offensive possessions and we didn't get a couple rebounds, and that's where they got a nine point lead,” said Coach Burnett.

The third quarter was fairly even, although Bishop Kenny extended its lead to 13 points heading into the fourth. The Blue Devils struggled to stop the Crusaders inside, as Kenny wracked up points in the paint.

“We needed to rebound better, but I thought our ball movement and energy were really good,” said Coach Burnett.

The Crusaders kept the Blue Devils at arms length in the fourth quarter as Stanton turned to a man-to-man defense. Bishop Kenny beat the Blue Devil defense and continued its offensive dominance of the paint. Down by double digits, Stanton was forced into taking desperation threes. The Blue Devils went on a small scoring run in the final minutes of the fourth, but it was too little too late, and the Crusaders came away with their 11th straight win.

“If we could've kept it close at the end of the first half, I think we would have been right with them,” said Coach Burnett.

Bishop Kenny improves to 18-3, while Stanton falls to 10-9 and moves on to a Jan. 30 road game at Eagle's View Academy. Despite the loss, the Blue Devils are still in the hunt for their first winning season since 2014.