When the undefeated and area-ranked Fenwick High School boys basketball team employs its 1-3-1 zone defense, senior Jay Militello gets the call.
Since last season, the 6-foot-3 reserve plays the top spot of the formation, combining his height and speed to harass the guards.
“I have a lot of experience at that. It’s just a spot I’m comfortable at and my instincts take over,” Militello said. “I feel like I can get a reach on the ball and track down where the defense is going to go and where the ball is going to be passed across the court.”
On Friday, that defense made a difference down the stretch as the Friars defeated Chicago Catholic League rival St. Ignatius 47-37 in front of a packed Gentile Center.
Mike Smith finished with 19 points, followed by Jacob Keller (9 points), Mike Ballard (7 points) and Jamal Nixon (5 points). Smith and Ballard each had two three-pointers.
The enthusiastic crowd was bolstered by Grade School Night, recognizing the school’s four fall sectional championship teams at halftime and showcasing the new Friar mascot.
“Amazing. I think that was the first time we’ve ever had that large a crowd,” Militello said. “It was a nice night for the Fenwick community to get together and to get the win as well.”
Fenwick (7-0, 2-0 in CCL) used the 1-3-1 sporadically in the first half for a specific lineup matchup before coach Rick Malnati used it most of the second half.
In the third quarter, St. Ignatius (2-4, 1-1) pulled ahead 21-19 but the Friars led 24-23 by the end of the period and scored the first six points of the fourth quarter for a seven-point advantage.
“The game was much closer (than 10 points). They do a really nice job of kind of holding the ball and keeping themselves in the game,” Malnati said. “We went into a 1-3-1 half-court (defense) to speed up the game so (St. Ignatius) wouldn’t hold the ball.”
In the fourth quarter, Smith had 10 points and both of his three-pointers. Quinn Fisher (4 points) had a key steal and layup and Keller consistently drove to the basket.
Fenwick led a much less active first half 13-12. Ballard electrified the crowd in the third quarter by blocking a dunk attempt on the defensive end and sinking a three on offense.
Militello added a free throw in the fourth quarter to finish with three points.
“The box score won’t represent his effort in the game but he did a nice job of changing the game for us,” Malnati said. “I’d bet in the first half we had 14 possessions. Every possession is much bigger when you’re limited, and then the pressure gets to be on us because we’re the higher-ranked team. It’s a learning experience and I don’t think we responded that well.”
The big goals of Fenwick’s veteran group could very include its first CCL title since a 1996 co-title with De La Salle. Last season, the Friars split their two meeting with St. Ignatius, which shared the North Division crown with St. Joseph.
“We obviously want to win conference,” Militello said. “Everything progresses toward downstate, the (state) finals. If we’re doing well and playing consistent, we feel we could make a run for state.”