Berry’s 3-pointer helps DeSmet clip CBC 65-64

In the biggest moments of a big game, teams want their best players taking the biggest shots. DeSmet junior standout Nolan Berry had that moment and made it count on Friday night against Metro Catholic rival Christian Brothers College.

Against the backdrop of Senior Night at DeSmet, Berry came off the bench after four minutes of play but it was his last shot of the night that saved the evening for DeSmet.

Popping out to the top of the key off a pick, Berry drilled an open three-pointer with five seconds left, erasing a 63-62 deficit and giving DeSmet a heart-stopping 65-64 victory.
“Jimmy just came up and needed help on the drive and I helped him get into the lane and then I just popped out and got the shot and took it,” Berry said.”It feels great to win a game like this against a big rival like CBC. After losing to Troy the other night we didn’t want to lose two in a row.”

Berry, who led the Spartans with 19 points, spent the first four plus minutes of the game on the bench so that seniors Mike Aselson, Jamie Hudson, and Curt Gielow could start the game and be honored on Senior Night but after CBC jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first four minutes of the first quarter, Berry was inserted into the Spartans lineup.
“The seniors have do so much for our program so I had no problem with sitting out to start,” Berry said. “I came in and got right into the flow.”

DeSmet (12-5, 5-1 in Metro Catholic play) trailed 15-12 after a quarter but an 8-3 Spartans run capped by a Hudson backdoor basket gave DeSmet its first lead of the night at 20-18. A Berry jumper and subsequent 3-point play spurred a 12-5 closing surge leaving DeSmet with a 32-23 halftime edge at the break.
“We’re primarily a motion team, so we talk about spacing and how to read and react, so that you can kind of be ready for whatever you see,” DeSmet coach Kevin Poelker said.

DeSmet continued to get scoring from Berry and Jimmy Barton inside and outside while Jordan Barnett, Robert Hamilton and Patrick McCaw scored in double figures to keep the CBC with six points heading into the fourth quarter.
Barnett, the Cadets 6-foot-7 super sophomore led the Cadets with a game-high 23 points while Hamilton and McCaw added 18 and 13 points respectively.
Having three players in double figures was a welcome sight for CBC assistant coach Chris McConnell, who was filling in for head coach Bob McCormack, who was home battling pneumonia.

“I thought we did a great job running cuts and screens and ball screens most of the night and that allowed us to get some guys to score,” O’Connell said.
CBC (12-7, 2-3 ) carried a 64-60 lead into the final minute of play after Aarion Penton’s put back basket but DeSmet cut it to two on a Alec Baush layin.

In the final 21 seconds, Barnett missed the front end of a one and one opportunity at the foul line and DeSmet had one final chance to steal the game.

With seven seconds left, Berry came off a screen, popped out to the top of the key and drained a high-arching three-ball that sent the DeSmet faithful into delirium.
“You get a conference game, you get great alumni teams back and to be able to come out and battle back and win it is special, ” Poelker said. “Luckily, they pulled it together at the end and used it right when they needed it.”

The loss was CBC’s second close loss in three days after losing at home to Hazelwood Central (62-60) on Wednesday but O’Connell knew that this setback was a big step in the right direction for the young Cadets, who were blasted two weeks ago by DeSmet (64-42) at home.

“I was proud of our guys,” O’Connell said. “I thought every time stretched it back we had and answer. I thought we came a long way in the two week since they got us by 20 at our place.”

Barton had another strong floor game for DeSmet with 10 points and 11assists.

NOTES: During halftime, DeSmet honored the school’s 1972, 1982, 1992, and 2002 squads with an appreciation ceremony.