Being the lone sophomore named to any of the first three All-Catholic League basketball teams is a badge of honor for Fenwick point guard Trey Pettigrew.
But it wasn’t the badge he wanted.
Pettigrew said being named Second-Team All-CCL was a blend of recognition, appreciation, inspiration and slight.
“Hearing that was great, it showed my hard work is paying off,” he said. “It’s something I wanted badly.
“But when I heard I wasn’t on the first team? It really just added more fuel to the fire.”
More Top Picks Parent Rights Under Idea Explained In Plain English
The 6-foot-3 guard was a vastly improved player as a sophomore. He gained 20 pounds of muscle, added a few inches to his vertical and tightened his handle and jump shot. That made him an effective sidekick for junior standout Bryce Hopkins, a Louisville recruit, and the Friars have reaped the benefits of their hard work.
“Obviously we wouldn’t be where we are without Bryce, but Trey has been that exceptional second option, threat, playmaker,” coach Staunton Peck said. “He’s carried us sometimes and genuinely has taken us over the top in many games.”
Fenwick knocked off Payton 78-46 to win the Class 3A Fenwick Regional title on Friday night. Hopkins scored 32 points and once again led the Friars (26-7). Pettigrew added 13 points and six assists, and sophomore David Gieser chipped in with nine points.
Playing alongside a star for two years has taught Pettigrew a few things for both the sectional tournament and beyond.
“Really, (Hopkins has) showed me how to be an emotionless killer,” said Pettigrew, a Lisle resident. “He doesn’t show much emotion on the court. He just goes out there, rolls the ball out there, locks in and plays hard. So being his teammate last year and this year, I’ve been able to see his jump this season.
“It’s been huge. His maturity, his leadership, everything has taken a leap forward. And that’s sort of forced me to grow with him too, because he can’t do it by himself.”
Hopkins and Pettigrew have learned how to share the spotlight and scoring responsibilities. Peck said the team has watched them grow as a one-two tandem.
“You never know until we start playing,” Peck said. “The team has become more comfortable — Bryce has become more comfortable — with what Trey can do. And with that, everyone is more comfortable sharing responsibilities.
“Off the court, they get along well. You see them sitting together at lunch, goofing around in practice. You want guys who talk to each other like that.”
Fenwick moved on to play in the loaded Class 3A St. Ignatius Sectional. The Friars were scheduled to face Westinghouse on Tuesday, with the winner facing either DePaul Prep or St. Ignatius on Friday. Fenwick beat Westinghouse and DePaul Prep during the regular season and lost to St. Ignatius.
“We’re still young, but age is never an excuse, especially at this point of the year,” Pettigrew said. “But we want to win state like every other team, and we have the pieces to do that.
“We don’t talk about losing, just winning. If we do get to the point of losing, we’ll talk about next year. But for now, we just want to keep winning. It’s that mentality.”
Rich Mayor is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press