Don Horkey“Your last article was one-sided. The priests didn’t like it,” he said.
I don’t think I have to go to confession. The story in question two weeks ago in this paper was a balanced critique of a very lopsided game that CC lost to arch-nemesis Brother Rice. At one point in the game, the Warriors led 13-1 en route to a 15-9 decision. Not exactly what you’d call a nail-biter.
But it was a shocker. I wasn’t anticipating such a blowout, nor, certainly, were CC’s players, coaches and fans. Their disappointment was understandable.
That was then. This is now.
The two teams met at Notre Dame Prep for the CHSL Division I title — with the same result, a Rice win, 12-8, as has been the case for 22 meetings between these fiercely proud rivals since 2005. To the credit of Wilson, his staff and squad, it was a far different Shamrocks team, a team on a mission.
When Rice opened the game with a pair of lightning-quick goals, the Shamrocks’ senior attacker, Sean Stanners, playing with a heavily taped, bruised left thigh, got one of those goals back 26 seconds later and, at the same time, fired up his teammates and let everyone know that this game would not be another cake-walk for Brother Rice.
The tempo picked up considerably as did the physicality. Both defenses stiffened, buoyed by sharp goaltending by the Shamrocks’ Joe Williams, who was peppered with three dozen shots, and the Warriors’ Chris Lievois, who handled a couple dozen.
In the second half, CC reduced the deficit to one goal on three occasions: at 6-5, 7-6 and 8-7. Each time, the Warriors frustrated the Shamrocks’ attempts to tie the score, until finally taking charge on four consecutive goals in a six-minute span down the stretch for their 12th straight CHSL championship and 71st win in a row over a CHSL opponent in the last 10 years.
Stanners led the CC offense with four goals, while Joe Dudley (4), Morgan Macko (3) and John Lockwood (3) accounted for the bulk of Rice’s attack.
“We have responded well all season,” said Rice’s first-year head coach, Ajay Chwala. “The tough games we have been in help so that we expect to win.”
One of those “tough games” came a week earlier when the Warriors defeated Detroit Country Day, 11-9, to avenge an overtime loss to the Yellow Jackets in mid-April that snapped Rice’s 133-game win streak against in-state opponents.
Now, the attention turns to the state tournament with both CC and Rice slated to begin May 21. The Warriors will be seeking their 10th consecutive state championship.
Would you believe that — if Rice and the Shamrocks aren’t waylaid along the tourney trail — they could be squaring off for the state crown at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, at East Grand Rapids?
Wouldn’t that be something!
The other CHSL lacrosse champs
Bloomfield Hills Marian won its eighth consecutive Division I girls trophy by holding off Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart Academy, 15-13.
Livonia Ladywood successfully defended its Girls Division II title, beating Notre Dame Prep 19-8.
In the Boys Division II, Notre Dame won its second title in a row, 9-4, over Ann Arbor Fr. Gabriel Richard.
Don Horkey is a freelance writer. He may be reached at [email protected].
