The Holy Cross boys basketball team had a busy week with four games, including three in a four-day span.
After a 71-48 win over Seymour on Jan. 13, the Crusaders traveled to West Hartford to face sixth-ranked Northwest Catholic on Wednesday night. Holy Cross battled to the end and lost by a single point, 54-53, to the Lions. That loss was the second against a Top 10 team this season, with the other coming against Hillhouse-New Haven in the Anthony Ireland Holiday Classic Invitational.
After a day off Thursday, the Crusaders returned to the friendly confines of Timothy J. McDonald Gymnasium for the final two games of the week. Holy Cross hosted and blasted Oxford, 95-56, on Friday night behind 34 points from senior star Elijah Parker.
The Crusaders took on Woodland on Saturday afternoon in a makeup of a game postponed earlier this season. The Hawks had a double-digit lead early on and hung tough, trailing by just four points, 46-42 at the halftime break. Holy Cross turned up the heat in the second half and ran away with a 91-67 win over Woodland. Parker led the way again with 37 points, the second time he had reached that figure this season. The Crusaders ended the first half with an 8-2 record.
Parker’s ability to attack the basket at will is trouble for any opponent, and he’ll also find open teammates for easy layups off his own drives. When Holy Cross gets multiple players in double figures, it can be really dangerous.
The Crusaders are scheduled for three games this week. Holy Cross hosts St. Paul on Tuesday at 7 p.m., then heads to Ansonia on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. contest. On Saturday, the Crusaders get another strong non-league challenge when they play at West Haven at 4 p.m.
GALLERY: Here are my photos from Saturday’s game.
