Fischer leads Patriots to historic SCT title Win battle over vastly improved CBA squad BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer Above, CBA's Justin Schwartz presses the ball upcourt during the Colts' loss to Freehold Township in Saturday's SCT final in Toms River. Below, CBA's Brian Neller looks to dish as he drives to the basket Ed Wicelinski has seen enough of Freehold Township to know why the Patriots are the Shore Conference's best team. "They are a team," said Christian Brothers Academy's head coach. "They don't rely on any one player. They play defense really, really well and you can't double them because they'll pass it to the open man." It was a pass to an open shooter, a role player, that made the difference Saturday night when Brian Golub's Patriots confirmed once and for all that they are No. 1 in the Shore by defeating Wicelinski's Colts, 55-49, before an SRO crown in the Ritacco Center at Toms River North High School in the Shore Conference Tournament championship game. It was the Pats' third win in as many games against the defending champion Colts. CBA had rallied to catch the Patriots at 43-43 on a big three by Brian Neller with 2:13 to play. RICH GRAESSLE The momentum was the Colts, but the Pats had the Fischer brothers, Eddie and Kevin. Eddie, who had masterfully led the Patriots all night, would find his brother open in the left corner and delivered one of his trademark pinpoint passes. Kevin let it fly and when his shot fell through the net, it was a dagger in CBA's heart. The shot went back to the Fischer driveway years ago. "Since sixth grade when we were always playing in the driveway we practice plays like this," said Kevin Fischer. "I always took the shot." Saturday, it took some encouragement from his brother to knock down the biggest shot of the game. Kevin had missed some open shots earlier in the game, but that didn't faze his older brother. "That was a big shot for us," said Eddie. "All game I kept telling him to keep his head up and remain confident." Confident enough to stick the shot that turned the SCT final around. "We got the game all squared and they hit the wide open three," said Wicelinski. Forward Marcus Roberson who helped set the screens that freed Fischer up, was not surprised to see him make the shot. "That's what he does," he remarked. "He shot it with confidence." Kevin Fischer's trey was the latest example of what has separated the 23-1 Patriots from everyone else. They have their Big Three in seniors, Eddie Fischer, T.J. LaFalce and Roberson, who can be counted on each night. But then they had their role players, the Rodger Wilmots, the Alan Frosts, Brian Brikowskis, Kevin Fischer and Corey Csakais. Someone else each night seemed to step up for them. In the SCT, no one stepped up more than Eddie Fischer. He willed the Patriots to win, supplying the offense more than usual, scoring a game-high 22 points. "I look to drive and penetrate and pass the ball to the open man," he said. "Our shooters missed a couple early and I felt I had to shoot a little more," he added. "It helped in the fourth quarter." Fischer scored nine of his points in the fourth, including a running jumper with 49.6 seconds left that lifted the Patriots to a 48-44 lead. CBA would get a gigantic break in the final half minute. After pulling to within a three-point shot, 50-47, on Derek Beck's basket, the Patriots had the ball under the Colts' basket following a timeout. They went with the deep pass that floated off Fischer's fingertips. The Colts would have the ball with a chance to tie it. Fischer would have none of that. Just seconds after the turnover, he came up with the steal that sealed it. "I lost my man," noted Fischer. "I felt Becker behind me and I saw [Mike] Kuhn coming up and I looked into his eyes." Fischer read Kuhn's eyes and when he attempted his pass to Becker, Fischer reached up and snatched the pass. He would be fouled and make both of his free throws to extend the lead to 52-47. CBA got those points back on a pair of free throws from Becker with 17.1 seconds left, but Fischer made one of two free throws to push the lead back to four and the Colts were finally done. LaFalce provided the final points from the line with 2.4 seconds left and the Patriots had won what is the biggest game in the program's history. "This was the big one, if we'd have lost this one, the other two would have been for nothing," said Fischer. "Since we came to high school we've had great chemistry and confidence." Roberson reflect on what it took to get Freehold Township to this point where the Pats are the SCT champions. "A lot of work made this happen," said Roberson. "It feels good." Beating the program that has been the standard in the Shore (the Colts have won the SCT 14 times) made the victory that much more memorable. "You have to give it to CBA, they were tough," said Roberson. "They played us wire to wire." Eddie Fischer was named the Player of the Game, not only for his 22 points, but the big plays he made all game. LaFalce, who had torched CBA in the first two games, was '"held" to 15. Roberson added eight and was his usual force pulling down rebounds in traffic. This was an historic victory by the Patriots. They were the first Patriot team and first Freehold Regional District team to get the SCT final, let alone win it. It's another hurdle that has been cleared for future teams. While CBA is not used to losing meaningful games to Shore teams, it was an achievement for this young team just to get to the final. They've grown up right before Wicelinski's eyes. Neller, for instance, did not play like a sophomore, netting a team-high 17 including four treys (all of them big). Kuhn, a junior, added 11. "I'm proud of their effort today," Wicelinski said. "Our shots weren't falling and it would have been easy to quit. "We got to the championship game and had a chance to win," he added. "You can't ask for more." It's now on to the state playoffs. CBA, the fifth seed in the Non-Public South A bracket opened last night against 12th-seeded Red Bank Catholic, with the winner to face fourth-seeded St. John Vianney tomorrow in Holmdel.