Basketball Recap: Ozanam Comes Up Short

On Monday, Ozanam came up short against the St. Vincent de Paul Academy Hawks and fell 51-44. While Ozanam didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating St. Vincent de Paul Academy 20-16 in the first quarter.

Despite the defeat, Ozanam saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Damontae Balmat posted 22 points. Another player making a difference was Ty Fallert, who put up four points in addition to five rebounds and three steals.

Even though they lost, Ozanam smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards in four consecutive matches.

St. Vincent de Paul Academy got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was George Spencer out in front who went 7 of 14 on his way to 17 points along with seven boards and three steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Leo Hodal, who almost dropped a double-double on 11 points and nine rebounds.

Ozanam's loss dropped their record down to 1-7. As for St. Vincent de Paul Academy, their win ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 2-4.

Ozanam won't have much time to rest: their next contest is against Lutheran at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As for St. Vincent de Paul Academy, they will have some time to savor their victory since their next game is a little ways off: they'll take on Whitefield Academy at 5:00 p.m. on January 13, 2025.