DALLAS - The Dallas Jesuit basketball team suffered through a tough shooting night and fell to Sachse, 50-45, in the semifinals of the 62nd Annual Knights of Columbus Bob Stras Memorial Tournament at Walsh Gym on Friday.
Jesuit (6-4) saw its 4-game winning streak come to an end and will face St. Marks (7-2) in the third place game on Saturday at Noon. Sachse (6-6) will meet Grand Prairie (7-0) in the championship at 1:30 p.m.
Both defenses were locked in as Jesuit shot just 35 percent and Sachse at 32 percent. The Rangers suffered through their worst night from outside, making just 1-of-21 from long distance. Jesuit did score 14 second chance points off 12 offensive rebounds. Jesuit was 6-of-12 at the free throw line.
Pierce Popelka was the lone Jesuit player in double figures, scoring 10 points and grabbing nine rebounds. His layup in the opening minute ignited the Jesuit crowd as they celebrated the annual Teddy Bear Toss game with a sea of stuffed animals launched from the crowd after the home teams first basket. All stuffed animals were donated to Children's Hospital.
Justin Fern added nine points and seven rebounds.
Sachse got 14 points each from Gerald Anderson and Miles Johnson.
Jesuit trailed by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter and pulled to within 41-40 with 2:32 remaining. The Rangers found themselves down by three twice laster in the contest but were unable to connect on 3-pointers. Sachse did just enough at the charity stripe in the final 2:30, making 5-of-9 to keep the Rangers at bay.
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