A Comeback for the Ages
WEST ROXBURY — As the Division I boys basketball tournament kicked off on Thursday night, Saint John’s (Shrewsbury) and Catholic Memorial found themselves on opposite sides of the court, both dreaming of making a deep run in March. However, what began as a promising start for the Pioneers quickly turned into a nightmare.
The Pioneers were “punched in the face” early in the game, with the Knights’ full-court press causing confusion and turnovers that put Saint John’s in a tough spot. Despite being on the road and facing a team they had already beaten twice, the Pioneers showed resilience and determination to turn things around.
After trailing by as many as 12 points in the second quarter, Saint John’s made a crucial timeout that changed the course of the game. The team regrouped and returned to their core principles, which ultimately led them to a 56-54 victory over Catholic Memorial in the D-I Round of 32.
Resilience and Mental Toughness
Saint John’s coach John Ginnity expressed his pride in the team’s response to adversity. “Proud of our guys, like really proud of them the way they responded, the mental toughness to go on the road, get down, and to chip away, chip away, chip away,” he said.
Junior Jackson Fournier echoed the coach’s sentiments, stating, “We got pretty much punched in the face to start the game, but we powered our way back.” There was no dramatic speech or drastic changes in strategy; instead, the team simply returned to their usual style of play.
“We didn’t change anything, just went back to being ourselves,” Ginnity explained. “Let’s do what we do. Let’s get to those things. Make them beat us doing the things that we do.”
Rebounding and Inside Play
Saint John’s quickly regained their footing, focusing on rebounding and inside shots to shift the momentum in their favor. Sophomore Danny Rauktis contributed 10 points in the second quarter, helping the Pioneers trail by just two points at halftime.
The Pioneers carried this strong performance into the third quarter, surging to a five-point lead by the end of the frame. After being outrebounded in the first half, Saint John’s took control of the boards, leading to multiple offensive putbacks.
“They’re a couple of big forwards,” Fournier said about the Knights’ forward core. “They’re tough and bang down there, but us just being able to box out, all five of us, not just the two down low, and just rebounding as a team, was huge.”
Clutch Moments and Final Push
As the fourth quarter began, the Pioneers looked like a team that could smell blood in the water. A 7-2 run, highlighted by a Gabe Terlato corner three-pointer, gave them a 50-40 lead with minutes remaining. However, Catholic Memorial refused to give up.
Flannery and Jacari Jenkins each hit a pair of quick inside baskets, cutting the lead to four and reigniting the crowd. But the Pioneers remained composed, and in the final moments, Fournier stepped up with a clutch three-pointer that would prove to be the difference.
“He’s a gamer, he’s a winner,” Ginnity said. “He makes winning plays, not all that end up in points or rebounds, just winning plays. And his presence out there as a leader helps all of our other guys.”
Despite the Knights’ efforts, Jenkins missed a shot that would have tied the game, and Fournier’s free throws sealed the victory for Saint John’s.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Saint John’s advances to the Round of 16, where they could face a potential rematch with No. 1 Central Catholic, the team that knocked them out of the tournament last year.
“We’ve got to go back to doing what we do and doing it really well, the best that we can,” Ginnity said. “Whoever we play, they’re going to be really good.”
For now, the Pioneers can take pride in their resilience and ability to overcome challenges, proving that sometimes, the toughest games are the ones that define a team’s character.
