The Marist Varsity Boys Basketball squad won the annual Battle of Pulaski against Br. Rice Tuesday, January 21 in a nail-biting fashion.

Head Coach Hynes and the RedHawks were able to narrowly sneak past the Crusaders in an impressive comeback in the fourth quarter. The RedHawks trailed most of the game by around 10 points, and the Crusaders were routinely out-rebounding them, making 3-pointers one after another. 

“It wasn’t anything offensively or defensively that they were doing better than us, we were struggling to rebound. 13 of their first 24 points in the first half came off offensive rebounds,” said Coach Joseph Pettinger. 

However, a 3-pointer and a block late in the game ignited a spark that rallied the RedHawks and shifted momentum. 

“The momentum changed when Stephen Brown hustled and blocked the open layup that Rice had. Really got the crowd going and our players rallied around his efforts,” said Hynes. 

After gaining a small lead, they secured a few free throws to guarantee a win. The final score was 56-51.

During halftime, The Weish4Ever Foundation gave checks for two families to alleviate some of the financial burden caused by battling cancer. 

These past few years, both schools have represented the Weish4Ever Foundation before the game. This tradition displays the sense of community on the South Side, despite the intense athletic rivalry between the two schools.