Late Loyola Rally Ends Notre Dame Streak at 8

Funny thing about momentum. Just when you think you have it, it can turn against you.

Notre Dame High and Coach Mick Cady certainly had it--an eight-game winning streak and a 14-point, third-quarter lead against Del Rey League rival Loyola on Saturday night.

Like rolling stones, Mick and his band appeared to be gathering speed with each trip down the court and seemed a cinch for another victory.

But Notre Dame could get no satisfaction. Aided by four key turnovers in the fourth quarter, the Cubs reversed the momentum and rallied to shock Notre Dame, 69-67, at Loyola.

“We let the game get away from us,” Cady said.

Guard James West made a layup and a foul shot with 29 seconds to play to give the Cubs (13-4, 4-1 in league play) their margin of victory.

Notre Dame, which led, 59-45, with two minutes left in the third quarter, was outscored, 18-8, in the final period.

Despite the loss, Notre Dame (9-6, 5-1) remains in first place because Alemany lost to Bosco Tech, 73-63, Saturday night. Loyola is a half-game behind Notre Dame and Alemany remains one game behind.

The Knights (9-6, 5-1) had a chance to win with one second on the clock, but Kenny Hicks’ three-point shot fell inches short.

“I don’t think I got off a good shot at all,” Hicks said. “A guy was all over me. It feels just awful.”

Said Cady: “We lost our composure. It was their press. We’ve been successful against a lot of presses. It was bound to happen once. We got our 14-point lead because they couldn’t handle our press.”

Notre Dame jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but Loyola quickly closed the gap.

Chris Belcher hit consecutive jumpers to give the Cubs a brief 11-10 lead, but Hicks’ three-point shot at the buzzer gave the Knights a 16-15 lead after one quarter.

The lead changed hands seven times in the second period, but Hicks, who finished with 10 points, hit another baseline three-point shot as time expired to give Notre Dame a 35-34 lead.

The Knights opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run. Bruce Heicke, who scored a game-high 19 points, scored eight points in the quarter, including four free throws.

“But we lost our poise,” Heicke said.

Loyola closed the gap to 61-51 as the fourth quarter began. George Jones of the Cubs began the final period by twice stealing the ball for breakaway dunks.

Heicke then was called for traveling in the backcourt and an inside pass by Hicks to David Fonseca went out of bounds.

To make matters worse, Notre Dame center Ed Cogan fouled out with 3:09 to play.

Paul Jordan scored five points in the fourth quarter, including a soft jump shot with one minute to play to give Loyola a 66-65 lead. Heicke countered with a basket, but West penetrated for the game-winner on the Cubs’ next possession.