File photo

Playing without one of their best players and leading scorer, the St. Bernard’s Crusaders got a big win in Little 4 boys basketball on Friday night to move within one victory of securing at least a share of this year’s conference championship.

St. Bernard’s traveled to Hoopa and won 54-47.

The victory lifts them to 3-0 in conference play and 15-4 overall and moves the Crusaders two wins ahead of the chasing pack with three games remaining.

The visitors started strong and outscored the Warriors in each of the first two quarters on their way to a 13-point lead (29-16) at halftime.

But the home team would make a game of it in the second half, closing to within five after a big third quarter that saw them outscore SB 19-11.

“We started the game well. We hit our shots, moved the ball, and kept that momentum for most of the first half,” said St. Bernard’s assistant coach Pat Shanahan whose team was playing without junior standout Liam Dyer. “In the third quarter, coach Roman Hutt and Hoopa came out on a mission and made it a game.”

Junior Malakai McCoy was particularly dangerous for the home team and finished with a game-high 24 points including five 3-pointers.

The Crusaders, however, finished the stronger of the two teams to secure the win, as they bounced back from a non-conference loss in a wild game at McKinleyville on  Wednesday night.

“(McCoy) was unstoppable for a period of time, and the Hoopa crowd loved it,” Shanahan said. “Luckily we stayed poised, weathered the storm and executed well in the fourth quarter to win the ball game.”

Sophomore forward Garrett Shanahan led the Crusaders in Dyer’s absence and finished with a double-double, scoring 18 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

Prince Latimer also continued to impress for the Crusaders and added 11 points, while teammates Luke Brunton and Carson Costa each finished with nine points and five rebounds.

“Garrett played a great all-around game, and with Liam out with a day-to-day injury we needed him to step up offensively,” Pat Shanahan said. “Prince and Carson also contributed well with their cutting and scoring.”

The coach added that “Luke Brunton hit some clutch shots at times when we really needed them to slow down Hoopa.”

Tyler Hinrichs led the visitors with six assists, distributing the ball well and playing some tough defense at the other end of the floor.

Thien Dang, Trennten Hagler and Burke Morrow also “played scrappy and smart,” according to Pat Shanahan.

“We were happy to have won another league game, especially on the road in Hoopa,” the coach added. “We will get a few days rest and will look to prep for Ferndale next week.”

The Crusaders can clinch a share of this year’s conference championship with a win against the Wildcats in Ferndale on Thursday.

For more on Hoopa’s performance, see Friday night’s Little 4 roundup.