St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore said he didn’t know anything about his opponent Saturday, Jan. 9, until he watched a highlight clip on YouTube earlier in the week.
What he saw couldn’t have been comforting.
The Chargers, the defending Class 3A state champions, played Wasatch of Mount Pleasant, Utah, in the Bob Hambric Shootout at T.F. North. With a starting lineup averaging 6-foot-5, Wasatch overwhelmed the Chargers during a 70-60 victory in Calumet City.
The Tigers (14-2) led 21-11 at the end of the first quarter and owned a 22-point lead in the third quarter as St. Joseph (12-3) lost for the third time in four games. The Chargers had closed out the Proviso West Tournament with losses to Morgan Park, ranked No. 1 by the Tribune, and Bogan, ranked No. 6.
Senior Nick Rakocevic led the Chargers at T.F. North with 16 points, while junior guard Jason Towers scored all 15 of his points after halftime to spark the Chargers. Only two other players scored baskets for St. Joseph in the second half.
Wasatch, which won three consecutive Utah championships from 2010-14, was scheduled to play Marshall at T. F. North on Sunday, Jan. 10.
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“They are good. They are one of the best teams we’ve played this year,” Towers said. “They are long. It takes time to get going; we had to adjust.”
St. Joseph climbed back in the fourth quarter with nine consecutive points, capped by Towers’ second 3-pointer, to come within 59-49.
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