Boys Basketball: Providence Answers the Bell in Win Over Tinley Park

The Skinny: At one point in the third quarter of Providence Catholic’s 69-49 boys basketball victory over Tinley Park on Wednesday night in New Lenox, the feeling in the Celtics’ camp was one of being punched in the mouth. Tinley Park fought back from an 18-point deficit to pull within 46-41. Tracey Brandy scored nine of his team-high 19 points to ignite the Titans. Instead of dropping to the canvas, Providence delivered a haymaker of its own. Tom O’Halloran made one of two free throws, and Kevin Kozan converted a three-point play to extend the Celtics’ lead 50-41. Kozan went on to score a game-high 22 points. He was one of three players to reach double figures for Providence.

Patch’s MVP: Kevin Kozan, junior, guard, Providence. He scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting.

Key Moments: Providence used runs of 11-0 and 15-3 in the second quarter to open a working margin. Kevin Kozan’s NBA-like 3-pointer boosted the Celtics’ lead to 31-13. Tinley Park leading scorer Jon Calhoun was plagued by foul trouble. He picked up his fourth foul with 6:03 left in the third quarter and spent nearly 8 minutes on the bench. He scored eight of his 10 points in the first half.

Tinley Park Leaders: Tracey Brandy (19 points, 7-of-17 shooting), Jon Calhoun (10 points), Eldridge Anderson (9 points, 11 rebounds), Vincent Gooden (6 points, 2 3-pointers).

Providence Leaders: Kevin Kozan (22 points, 8-of-18 shooting), Brian Oddo (11 points), Mike Marietti (10 points, 8 rebounds), Tom O’Halloran (9 points, 5-of-6 free throws), Tom Kaysen (8 points, all in the second half).

Quotable I: “Last year, I would have been scared to take that shot, and I wouldn’t have finished,” Kevin Kozan said of his drive to the basket that produced a game-changing three-point play for the Celtics in the third quarter. “But this year, I just went into him, and I got contact. I got the and-one, and I made the free throw. That was really big. They hit us. Right way, we hit them back. And they couldn’t hit us again.”

Quotable II: “We were right there (in the third quarter), but then we gave up a lot of easy buckets, layups in transition,” Tinley Park coach D.J. Brown said. “We just don’t get back defensively. That was our biggest problem. We got beat up and down the floor. I thought we got outworked and outhustled by a good Providence ballclub.”

Quotable III: “I think our staying power (was key),” Providence coach Tim Trendel said. “We stuck with it. It was a tough night to get into a flow. The game early was choppy, and the kids just kind of stuck with it. Our point guard play definitely kept us in the game and got some things going for us, got us some runouts, some easy baskets, and in the end kind of stabilized our offense.”

Team Records: Providence has won 7-of-9. The Celtics are 10-4. Tinley Park is 5-8.

What’s Next: Providence plays at St. Francis de Sales at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Jan. 6). Tinley Park plays hosts to Reavis at 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 6).