OAK PARK — Jacob Keller has mixed emotions about being a starter on Fenwick’s boys basketball team.
The 6-2 sophomore is pleased about receiving more playing time, but it has come at the expense one of his best friends and classmate Jamal Nixon, who will miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Keller made a few starts earlier in the season, but now is completely changing his role on the Friars. He scored two points Friday night as sixth-seeded Fenwick beat 11th-seeded Brother Rice 62-41 in the first round of the Catholic League playoffs at Fenwick.
The Friars (18-6) will play third-seeded St. Ignatius or fourth-seeded Seton in the quarterfinals at 3 p.m. Sunday at Loyola.
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Keller cracked the starting lineup Jan. 17 when Nixon could not play against Proviso East at DePaul University. Nixon initially was sidelined with an injury to his right thumb, but an MRI the following week revealed a knee injury. Nixon said he did not now how it happened and will have surgery Tuesday.
“It’s tough. I was having a pretty good season,” Nixon said. “I wanted to finish out the season with the seniors. We have a great bond. I’m disappointed.”
Keller and Nixon have known each other since the third grade. Nixon, a Plainfield resident, and Keller, who lives in Aurora, were teammates for the Illinois T-Wolves in Bolingbrook. Keller said he considered coming to Fenwick after Nixon shadowed a student and liked the school. The two often spoke as they considered their high school choices.
Keller, naturally a guard, is playing power forward so Mike Ballard can replace the 6-4 Nixon at center..
“It’s a little weird because I’m used to having the ball in my hand and setting my teammates up,” Keller said.
Keller, in his first varsity season, scored a season-high 14 points in a 62-60 overtime win at Benet.
“It’s a change (with Keller), but it doesn’t change [our goals],” leading scorer Mike Smith said. “Jacob can dribble, but he’s not as tall. He’s trying to play big. He still goes hard every day in practice.”
Keller is still learning on the court. He committed a mental mistake by touching the ball on the rim in the third quarter.
“I make a lot of mistakes, but it’s all about getting better,” Keller said.
Smith led Fenwick with 24 points and hit 10 of 13 free throws. Ballard scored 20 points while converting 5 of 5 from the foul line. Earlier in the week, both juniors were named all-Catholic League North.
The Friars pulled away from Brother Rice (9-16) in the third quarter on an 11-1 run to end the period. Fenwick held the Crusaders without a basket for the final 4:51 in the third.