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Big Fourth Quarter Gives Crusaders Title

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By GREGG BECNEL, Tribune correspondent

Published: January 1, 2008

TAMPA - After three quarters, Tampa Catholic looked as if it would ring in the New Year with a disappointing loss.

But the Crusaders erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth and went on to defeat Port Orange Spruce Creek 59-55 to capture the championship of the Craig Keeler Memorial Christmas Tournament on Monday.

"This feels really good. I'm so proud of the girls," Tampa Catholic coach and Keeler's widow, Nancy Kroll, said. "To be down 10 going into the fourth quarter and coming back to win says a lot about this team. They played phenomenal in the fourth quarter."

The Crusaders (14-3) trailed 46-36 after three quarters, but outscored Spruce Creek 19-0 in the first seven minutes of the fourth to go in front 55-46. The Hawks scored nine points in the final minute but Colette Eule's free throws down the stretch helped TC ice the win.

After watching Spruce Creek's perimeter shooters knock down shots, including four 3-pointers in the first three quarters, Kroll made a defensive adjustment to open the fourth.

"We went to a 3-2 zone and put 5-foot-11 Sarah Brennan with her long arms up high," Kroll said.

The switch worked perfectly, which also led to several fast-break layups for Brennan, who scored a career-high 19 points.

"We knew we had to step it up in the fourth quarter," Brennan said. "We got it together and did what we had to do to get the win."

TC junior Katelyn Bruns finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Eule had 13 points and four steals.

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