The Fenwick High School boys basketball team had reason to feel confident going into its IHSA Class 3A sectional semifinal versus St. Patrick on Feb. 28. After all, the Friars were sure to get a boost playing at home in front of their classmates, families, and friends.
But having home-court advantage doesn’t make advancement automatic, and this was proven again as the visiting Shamrocks pulled away in the second half to notch a 62-52 victory to end the Friars’ season.
“I’ll give it to them, they’ve got it,” said Fenwick junior forward Nate Marshall. “They’re well-coached and well-disciplined, and they can knock down shots for sure.”
Fenwick (18-11) started slowly as St. Patrick had a 16-0 run to take an 18-6 lead after a quarter. But the Friars started the second with a 9-0 run of their own to get back into the contest and only trailed 25-21 at halftime.
Fenwick’s momentum continued in the third quarter as the Friars twice took a one-point lead. But St. Patrick regained the lead for good with a 9-0 run and took a 40-32 advantage going into the final eight minutes.
“Every time we got it going, we either turned it over or missed a shot, and they answered,” Marshall said.
In the fourth quarter, the Shamrocks used a 6-0 spurt to open up their biggest lead of the game, 54-39 with 4:12 left. That essentially sealed Fenwick’s fate.
Fenwick’s Deonte Meeks (1) drives towards the basket against St Patrick during the Class 3A Fenwick Sectional semifinals Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) Credit: Wednesday Journal 
Fenwick’s Ty Macariola (21) puts up a three point attempt against St Patrick’s Harper Krolak (24) during the Class 3A Fenwick Sectional semifinals Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) Credit: Wednesday Journal 
Fenwick’s Dominick Ducree (0) puts up a lay up against St Patrick during the Class 3A Fenwick Sectional semifinals Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) Credit: Wednesday Journal 
Fenwick’s Kamren Hogan (5) drives the baseline against St Patrick during the Class 3A Fenwick Sectional semifinals Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) Credit: Wednesday Journal 
Fenwick’s Nathaniel Marshall (23) pulls up for a shot attempt against St Patrick during the Class 3A Fenwick Sectional semifinals Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) Credit: Wednesday Journal
“They’re solid and tough,” said Fenwick coach David Fergerson. “They played well, had a good game plan, and stuck to their brand of basketball. My hat’s off to them.”
St. Patrick had a balanced attack with four players scoring in double figures. Harper Krolak and A.J. Thomas each had 14 points; Cooper Kavanagh 11 points; and Nevaeh Hawkins 10, all in the fourth quarter.
Marshall and Ty Macariola tied for game-high scoring honors, with 15 points each. Dominick Ducree added 10 points for the Friars.
Overall, Fergerson felt they had a solid season.
“We had some ups and downs, some highs and lows,” he said. “We fell a little short tonight, but everybody’s coming back, and hopefully we’ll be able to regroup and come back better next year.”
Marshall thought Fergerson did an excellent job in his debut season leading Fenwick.
“He’s a great coach,” he said. “He’s been my coach since fifth grade when I joined his AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team and he taught me the game.”
Indeed, next season looks promising as Fenwick returns all but one player, senior reserve Marek Hill. Ducree, Macariola, and Marshall will be entering their fourth years on varsity, and Marshall knows it’s time to get past the sectional round, something that hasn’t been done since 2017, when the Friars were runners-up in Class 3A.
“We know what we need to work on this offseason,” he said. “As juniors, this is our third year in a row losing like this, and we’ve got to come back hungry next year.”