Crespi Stays in the Hunt for Mission Title

Crespi High’s basketball team has come a long way in one season.

A year ago, the Celts were battling to stay out of last place in the Mission League--and failed.

Wednesday night, Crespi’s quest was far different.

The Celts, fighting to remain in first place, benefited from excellent free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter to pull away from Alemany, 66-56.

Crespi (13-8, 8-3 in league play) remains in a tie with St. Bernard (15-10, 8-3). Alemany dropped to 13-11, 7-5. Crespi will finish league play Friday against St. Paul. St. Bernard will face Chaminade, which is winless in league games.

“Our destiny is in our own hands now,” Crespi Coach Chris Nikchevich said. “And that’s the key.”

Making free throws was the key to putting away the Indians.

Alemany’s Richard Dice tied the score, 54-54, on a drive to the basket with 2 minutes 11 seconds remaining. But Crespi, which made 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter, pulled away again on Sean Smith’s subsequent three-point play.

Jeff Luderer buried two free throws less than a minute later for a 59-54 Crespi lead.

After Alemany’s Chris Bello missed a shot on a drive to the basket, the Indians got restless. Bello fouled out with 34 seconds left on a loose-ball scramble with Smith.

Alemany Coach Kurt Keller was slapped with a technical foul when he failed to replace Bello within the allotted time, sending Luderer to the line to shoot two foul shots that gave Crespi a 62-54 lead.

Alemany led, 41-39, after the third quarter. Matt Nordyke, who scored 11 points off the bench, gave Crespi the lead with a three-point play with 2:22 left.

Rob Leff, who was just five of 18 in the first half, finished with a game-high 19 points.