Well-traveled Crespi could make Mission League impact

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After dropping the ball against the tournament host on Friday, it’s great to see Crespi didn’t make a trek all the way out to Texas for nothing.

Behind 17-point, 12-rebound effort by 6-foot-8 forward Joseph Fauria, the Celts made their after-Christmas, Lone Star adventure a memorable one with a 65-51 victory over Arlington (Tex.) Mansfield Timberview for third place at the American Bank Sherman Holiday Invitational. It’s good to see the Celts go out and test the prep basketball waters in far off, exotic locales because that experience will come in handy when they start Mission League play next week.

There’s a slew of talented teams in the Mission League this season and it’s kind of hard to say where exactly the Celts will fit in by the time Groundhog’s Day rolls around. Harvard-Westlake figures to be the cream of the crop, but it’s anyone’s guess who’ll finish second.

I think the Celts, along with Chaminade, Alemany and Loyola all have a good shot of making the postseason and I’m sure all you Verbum Dei and St. Francis fans out there in the blogosphere won’t be afraid to chastise these late December predictions. Come on, I dare you!

Also, in honor of Crespi’s willingness to go out and play competitive teams outside the Valley, here’s a video documenting some of the cultural differences this nation has to offer:

-- Austin Knoblauch