WESTCHESTER For the better part of 2 1/2 quarters, St. Joseph struggled against Mount Carmel.
The Chargers were committing sloppy turnovers and allowing the Caravan easy shots. It was not the way the players had expected their Senior Night.
After a Chargers’ timeout with 4:22 left in the third and the game tied at 34, they stepped up their defensive pressure.
“I said the same thing to them that I did at halftime: Play defense,” Chargers coach Gene Pingatore said. “Make plays and be smart.”
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The Chargers, led by senior guard Joffrey Brown, did exactly that as they held the Caravan (6-16, 2-7) to just 17 second-half points in a 65-48 Chicago Catholic North win.
Brown’s role for the Chargers (17-4, 7-2) was to stop Caravan junior guard Jake Rhode. Rhode scored 19 points in the first half to help give Mount Carmel a 30-28 lead going into the third quarter.
“I switched on defense and I usually guard one of the better players,” Brown said. “I was ready to stop him.”
Brown played physical, but smart defense. He prevented the 5-10 junior from penetrating and refused to give him open looks when he had the ball. Rhode scored seven points in the second half.
“I worked on getting physical and staying close to him,” Brown said. “I used my body more and kept him from taking shots.”
Brown’s defensive pressure on Rhode rubbed off on his teammates. The Chargers shook off their inconsistent play on offense in the first half and found their rhythm. They went on a 24-0 run and turned a close game into a blowout.
Brown contributed four points and two assists during the streak when five different players scored for the Chargers. He finished with 10 points as one of four Chargers to finish in double figures.
“That’s been our M.O. all season,” Pingatore said. “Get everyone involved. We have four players averaging double figures.”
Junior center Nick Rakocevic led the Chargers with 17. Senior guard Jordan Ash had 13 points and senior guard Glynn Watson had 10. Freshman guard Joffari Brown added eight off the bench.
For Mount Carmel, Rhode had 26 points and five steals, while junior guard Nick Chambers had nine points and three steals.
Chris Vavra is a freelancer for Pioneer Press