Gellineau's big effort lifts Kellenberg
Kellenberg's Kevin Bowles (10) drives between Xavier's Brendan Ferguson (20) and Jason Pretto (25) in the first half. (Jan. 28, 2012) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Bryan Gellineau is a gentle giant -- a kid so good-natured that one of the primary focuses this year was getting him to be a little more aggressive against opposing teams, a kid who, after winning MVP honors at Saturday's Tom Crotty Classic at Kellenberg, worried aloud if his interview with a nearby camera crew was good enough.
The Kellenberg center is listed at 6-10 ("well, he's 6-91/2," coach Jack McCutcheon said. "I measured him myself."), but admitted to sometimes worrying about not living up to his statuesque presence on the court.
"It gets me a little nervous," he said. "When I'm playing against a small team, the people in the stands expect me to dominate and, when I don't . . . it's a little unnerving."
That feeling is getting rarer, though. Gellineau, a junior who, much like the Firebirds, has come into his own this year, scored 13 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks as Kellenberg defeated Manhattan's Xavier, 63-44, in non-league. After going 7-17 last year, the Firebirds are now 14-2 and tops in the CHSAA.
"We're just a better team," said Kevin Bowles, who finished with 15 points and a busted bottom lip. "We're better players individually and I feel like we just work harder."
Kellenberg established dominance early, kicking it off with a 20-6 first quarter-turned-all out heist. The Firebirds had six of their nine steals in the quarter, led by Jeremy Arthur, who finished with four (he finished with nine points). Kellenberg, who also dominated the boards, never trailed and led by 12 at halftime.
"We tried to establish the low post and we were able to do that in this game," McCutcheon said. "Bryan came up to the task and that . . . helped us to establish our outside game.
"He's made great strides since sophomore year," McCutcheon said. "And it's not over. He's improving . . . and he's got his senior year." As it turns out, this giant hasn't reached his ceiling.
Chaminade falls. Chaminade overcame a four-point fourth quarter deficit for a tie but St. Francis Prep pulled away to win, 61-57, Saturday at the Tom Crotty Classic at Kellenberg. St. Francis' Darren Cordero scored 10 of the team's 12 points in the fourth, including a three from the left wing with 3:16 left to break a tie at 51.
Chaminade (9-6) had tied it on Jon Patterson's putback-and-one 30 seconds earlier. Patterson finished with a game-high 21. Though the Flyers had the height advantage, they were unable to navigate St. Francis' Prep's full-court press and athleticism. "We had problems finishing the play," senior guard John Gallego said. "We have a system in place but we just didn't stick to it."
