Free throws make the difference for Fenwick

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In a game filled with runs, it was Fenwick's consistent shooting at the free-throw line down the stretch and Xavier Humphrey's 22 points that led to a 65-60 Catholic League North with over St. Rita on Friday night.

The host Friars (7-6, 1-1) hit 15 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter to erase a six-point deficit and pick up their first conference win of the season. For the game, the Friars shot 29 free throws to St. Rita's four.

"Generally, we're a good foul shooting team," said Fenwick coach John Quinn. "We want to get to the line a lot in the fourth quarter."

Trailing 47-41 to start the fourth, Humphrey hit a layup and then a three-pointer to cut the lead to one. Minutes later, Michael Black's layup from Evan Okrzesik gave the Friars a 50-49 lead and they didn't trail the rest of the game.

"He's a four-year varsity guy," Quinn said of Humphrey. "He plays with a lot of poise."

Marcell Portwood and Lane Barlow led the Mustangs (7-6, 0-1) with 21 points each. Portwood added 10 rebounds and Barlow had six assists.

Okrzesik added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Friars, while Black had 13 points.

Trailing early on, St. Rita went on a 12-0 run to take a 15-9 lead. But the Friars quickly answered with a 14-point run to take an eight-point advantage.

Barlow's layup early in the third quarter gave the Mustangs their biggest lead of the game at 37-30. But he picked up a technical foul after the play, which led to a six-point run that got Fenwick right back in the game.