ANGELUS LEAGUE BASKETBALL : Player Hospitalized in Brawl After Servite Defeats St. Paul

After Servite High School’s 60-55 victory over St. Paul Friday night, an altercation resulted in one player being hospitalized.

Servite coach Rick Smith said a St. Paul player kicked Servite’s Brent Boznanski in the head when several shoving and punching matches broke out during post-game handshakes. Anaheim paramedics took Boznanski to Anaheim’s Martin Luther Hospital. He was listed in satisfactory condition late Friday night.

Smith said the incident was “horrible. I don’t think it was anything intentional, though.”

Servite (1-1 overall, 9-7 in league play) entered the fourth quarter with a 46-40 lead over St. Paul (0-2, 3-10).

The Friars slowed down the game, using a patient passing game to maintain a 54-40 lead. St. Paul’s Edgar Diaz made two free throws to cut it to 54-42 with 3:18 left to play.

“We were a little more patient offensively (early in the fourth quarter) and we had more layup opportunities,” Smith said.

St. Paul began trimming the lead as Servite struggled at the free-throw line. The Friars made only six of 20 free throws in the fourth quarter.

“We had good free throw shooters go to the line, but the free throws just didn’t happen,” Smith said.

In the final 40 seconds, St. Paul trailed, 54-53, on Matt Lenzer’s basket. Servite’s Adam Anderson followed with a basket and Paul Stapleton hit three of five from the line to ensure the Friars’ victory.

“St. Paul played a great game,” Smith said. “They have some kids who are really good outside shooters.”

Mike Coady led Servite with 16 points. Stapleton, with one three-pointer, and Anderson each scored 12.

Edgar Diaz and Fernando De La Ossa scored 12 for St. Paul. Diaz and Vinny Rocha each had three-pointers.