I arrived at halftime of the game. There were lots of people and press there. Must have been the only game in town. I didn't get any good shots just average ones. I was hurried and out of position. I was more of a spectator at this game. That's fine. If I'm not feeling it, I don't want to force it. I was not covering the game for anybody.
The game itself was terrific. Nice to see the Rams rebound and take down the ranked Mustangs in a rematch after their lose to this same St. Rita team one week ago. Rams prevailed in a squeaker, 46-43.
Rams started fast with 11-0 run and 18-6 first quarter. Mustangs came back in the second quarter. DePaul's long time scorekeeper Johnny Maz told me that he could not remember a time when the Rams did not score a field goal in the second and fourth quarters--only free throws. The Rams last field goal was with 3:03 left in the third quarter.
Which brings me to free throws. Or more particularly, fouls. What was up with the St. Rita fouls? Gary DeCesere must have decided that he was just going to pressure the Rams and that he did not care about fouls. The Rams were in the double bonus in the third quarter. I have said it before and I will write it again here children, "Free throws and layups win games." The Rams did not make a single field goal in the fourth quarter because of the massive pressure by the big St. Rita team. The Rams did however, go 16-20 on free throws in the second half and 20-28 in the entire game. Guess who won the game.
