When Hales Franciscan needed a spark in overtime Friday night, Matthew Humphrey decided it was time to step up.
The 6-foot-5-inch senior scored six of his team’s 13 points in the extra session, including a steal and jam for what proved to be the game-winner as No. 13 Hales topped No. 17 St. Ignatius 77-73.
“I wasn’t getting anything during the game,” said Humphrey, who had just seven points coming into overtime. “My shot wasn’t falling too good. It was a playoff-atmosphere game, and we had to come out with this win.”
Friday’s game was among a series of Catholic League crossovers that pitted North Division teams against their South counterparts. Hales (19-6) and St. Ignatius (17-4) both were runners-up.
The game was also the Spartans’ first without 6-8 Josh Crittle, who sprained his shoulder Monday and could be out for three weeks.
During the first three quarters, guard Phillip Williams had the hot hand with 13 points. In the fourth, junior guard D.J. Cooper’s 10 points almost single-handedly kept the Wolfpack at arm’s length.
In OT, Humphrey’s layup forced a 68-68 tie at the 2:11 mark. With 47 seconds to play, his two free throws extended Hales’ lead to 73-69, and he followed with a well-timed steal and jam with 30 seconds to go to make it 75-69.
St. Ignatius had rallied from a 64-60 deficit to force overtime on Keith Smith’s layup with 20 seconds to go. Hales then missed three shots in the final seconds.
Cooper and Williams each closed with 17 points for Hales. Joseph Mezyk collected a game-high 26 points for the losers but was shut out in overtime.
