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TC Finally Beats Holy Names

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By SCOTT PURKS Tribune correspondent

Published: January 10, 2008

TAMPA - Three times in a row, during the course of almost two years, Academy of the Holy Names had beaten Tampa Catholic, and each time determination built inside the Crusaders.

Then, finally, came Wednesday night when TC got the relief it needed: a 74-63 victory against the Jaguars.

"Honestly, we were confident we could beat them," Tampa Catholic forward Collette Eule said. "We weren't overconfident, but, especially after the last time they beat us 59-58 on a last-second shot in November, we believed."

Eule, scoring mostly from close range, finished with 13 points, two of which came with less than 2 minutes remaining to push the Crusaders' lead to seven, a cushion they never let shrink.

"I told our team that the difference would come down to who wanted it more," TC coach Nancy Kroll said. "And I think that feeling showed tonight."

Holy Names coach Casey Higgins said her team wanted it just as much, but the Jaguars did not execute down the stretch.

"I wish I had an answer for it," Higgins said. "But I don't."

After each of the first three quarters, it appeared TC (17-4) and Holy Names (12-7) were evenly matched, Holy Names leading by four after the first, and TC leading by three after the second and third quarters.

Higgins said she didn't believe fatigue had anything to do with it, even though she basically plays only six players.

On the flip side, TC played five off the bench and had five score in double figures: Sarah Brennan (16), Michelle Gingras (16), Katelyn Bruns (15), Eule (13) and Marissa Barletta (12).

"That's our style," Kroll said. "Get everybody involved, play unselfishly and keep up the intensity. Tonight we did a good job of that."

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