Fenwick  65
St. Rita   60

While one statistic never entirely determines the outcome of a game, once in awhile one comes along that does. The Fenwick boys basketball team attempted 30 free throws during its game against St. Rita on Friday night in Oak Park. How many did St. Rita attempt? Three. Final score: Fenwick 65, St. Rita 60.

Of their freebies, the Friars (7-6, 1-1 Catholic League North) sank 13-of-16 attempts in the fourth quarter.

“We got St. Rita in foul trouble,” Fenwick coach John Quinn said. “We have confidence that we can be a consistent team, especially when we get into the double bonus. We try to coach our players that when we’re behind to get to the free-throw line. It stops the clock and let’s us set up defensively.”

Ironically, the Friars also pulled off a perfectly legal “fast one” to kick off the fourth quarter. Akin to a no-huddle offense in football, Fenwick opened the quarter with a quick inbound pass that resulted in an uncontested layup by Xavier Humphrey (22 points, 5 rebounds). After a rattled St. Rita squad committed a turnover and Humphrey nailed a three-pointer on the next play to close within 47-46, the Friars’ comeback was in full effect. Fenwick outscored St. Rita 24-13 in the fourth.

“At the start of the [fourth] quarter, St. Rita still happened to be in the huddle and the ref gave us the ball,” Humphrey said. “We got the quick layup and then the steal and the three. They never really caught up.”

Michael Black converted a layup off an Evan Okrzesik steal and assist, putting the Friars up 50-49 with 5:32 remaining. Black finished with 13 points.

Okrzesik set the tone early, sinking two mid-range jumpers to lift Fenwick to an early 9-3 advantage. Both teams authored impressive runs as St. Rita went on a 12-0 spurt to take a 15-9 lead, before Fenwick offered a 14-0 response to regain control 23-15 at the 7:09 mark of the second quarter.

“Our last game, I had a breakout game and [now] I’m just trying to move forward,” said Okrzesik, who finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. “I’ll do whatever it takes for us to win. We picked up our defensive intensity and hit some shots in the fourth quarter.”

Lane Barlow (21 points, 6 assists) and Marcell Portwood (21 points, 11 rebounds) took turns carrying St. Rita (7-6, 0-1). Barlow scored 15 in the first half, while Portwood tallied nine points in the fourth quarter.

Jose Gamboa (9 points, 4 rebounds) and Xavier Vergara (4 points) also contributed for Fenwick.

“We still have the goal of defending our conference championship,” Quinn said. “Until somebody else knocks us out, we are the defending champs in the Catholic League North.”

The Friars travel to St. Ignatius on Friday, Jan. 16, and Montini on Jan. 21. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.