“You’ve got to keep your confidence high,” said FHS junior guard John Engelmeier, who collected 18 points on six 3-pointers. “We’re inconsistent, we’re up and down, but basketball’s a game of runs, and our runs were pretty big.
“I’m so thrilled to get a win against this team. I’m so happy for our seniors. I couldn’t have pictured it better.”
C.J. Napier tallied 19 points and David Luers tossed in 14 for the Falcons, who pushed their record to 11-10 overall and 3-6 in the GCLC. They’ve suffered eight losses by six points or less this season.
“There was something different tonight,” said Napier, a sophomore forward who also grabbed seven rebounds. “At least I felt it. I didn’t think we were going to lose it this time, and I guess everyone else thought it too, and we stepped up and did it.”
It was this kind of night for Fenwick: The hosts scored three points in the first quarter and 26 in the second.
“I thought our kids did a wonderful job,” Falcons coach Pat Kreke said. “I’ve said all along we can’t play 32 minutes, but I was thinking, ‘At least we got it out of our system early tonight.’ Then we go up 12 and fall behind again in the second half, but our kids just played through it.
“Our shooters get hot sometimes, and John was hot tonight and got us right back in the game. Finishing games is something we talk a lot about, and we’ve had problems taking care of the basketball. Tonight, we didn’t do too bad.”
The Knights had a 48-47 lead midway through the fourth period, but an 11-3 run put Fenwick on top for good.
Alter kept coming though, closing the gap to 59-57 on two Dominic Laravie free throws with 23.6 seconds. The visitors had a chance to tie the game and couldn’t convert, and Napier sank two foul shots with 15.7 showing after Laravie fouled out.
Laravie (18), Robby Ruffolo (14) and James Finke (11) were the leading scorers for the Knights (17-3, 8-1). They still clinched a share of their second straight North title when Carroll defeated Chaminade Julienne 65-63.
“Playing on the road in the GCL is not easy, especially against a good team,” Alter coach Eric Coulter said. “I thought our guys battled really hard, but when it comes right down to it, you’ve got to make plays at the end of the game. They made plays, and we did not. We have to tip our hat and say that they outplayed us tonight.”
The Falcons made just one basket in the first quarter — a Napier trey — and trailed 12-3 at the first stop. Then Engelmeier drilled four 3-balls during a four-minute span in the second stanza.
“It’s been a while. I’ve had a couple bad stretches of games,” said Engelmeier, who reached double digits for the first time since Jan. 17. “It’s a really good confidence booster.”
“I wasn’t upset with the shots we were getting in the first quarter,” Kreke said. “I didn’t think they were bad shots. We just weren’t making them. I don’t know if the Senior Night stuff played into that or not.”
Fenwick extended its lead to 36-24 early in the third period, only to watch Alter get hot and take a 42-39 advantage into the last eight minutes.
Ruffolo scored all 14 of his points in the second half for the Knights, who are ranked seventh in the Associated Press Division II state poll. Laravie, Connor Bazelak and Stephen Harker added six rebounds apiece.
Coulter noted that Alter has won a lot of close games this year.
“We’ve been fortunate, and it is so hard to go undefeated in the GCL,” he said. “Where it hurts us a little bit is going into the draw, but I knew Fenwick was a really good team.”
The Knights defeated the Falcons 47-41 on Jan. 13. Both teams will be involved in the D-II Dayton sectional draw Sunday, so Round 3 could happen.
“I think when we get to tournament time, we’re very dangerous,” Engelmeier said. “Come that time, I hope no one wants to play us.”
Fenwick has been blown out just once this season, taking a 57-28 beating at Purcell Marian on Jan. 25.
“You want to go into the tournament feeling like you’re playing pretty well, and for the most part, we are,” Kreke said. “You hope people realize that going into the draw. We could be dangerous offensively.”
Friday’s game marked the last home appearance for five FHS seniors: Paul Blodgett, Sammy DeBiasi, John Creech, C.J. Hurley and Luke Bradshaw.
“Our seniors set the tone, and then we just came out with all of our heart,” Napier said. “We knew it was our last time at home. We wanted it more than they did.”
The Falcons will finish the regular season at Carroll next Friday. Alter will be at home against Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy on Tuesday, then faces CJ at Fairmont’s Trent Arena on Friday.
Alter 12-12-18-15—57
Fenwick 3-26-10-22—61
ALTER (17-3, 8-1 GCLC North): Robby Ruffolo 4 3 14, James Finke 4 1 11, Stephen Harker 2 2 6, Nate Schumann 1 0 2, Dominic Laravie 7 3 18, Michael Beam 2 1 6. Totals: 20-10-57
FENWICK (11-10, 3-6 GCLC North): Paul Blodgett 1 2 5, Sammy DeBiasi 1 1 3, C.J. Napier 6 5 19, David Luers 5 2 14, John Engelmeier 6 0 18, Luke Bradshaw 1 0 2. Totals: 20-10-61
3-pointers: A 7 (Ruffolo 3, Finke 2, Laravie, Beam), F 11 (Engelmeier 6, Napier 2, Luers 2, Blodgett)
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