On Saturday, things could have been worse for John Carroll Catholic, but they could have been a whole lot better as they took a 51-36 loss to Palmetto Ridge. The result shouldn't come as a shock considering that's the fewest points John Carroll Catholic has scored all season.
Despite the loss, John Carroll Catholic saw an underclassman step up: Brandon James scored 17 points. Those 17 points set a new season-high mark for him. Collin Jefferson was another key contributor, scoring five points along with six assists.
John Carroll Catholic struggled to get the ball back on offense and finished the game with only two offensive rebounds. That's the fewest offensive rebounds they've managed all season.
Palmetto Ridge's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Sean Gomez led the charge by scoring 21 points along with five rebounds. The team also got some help courtesy of Calven Charles, who scored 11 points along with seven rebounds.
John Carroll Catholic has not been sharp recently, as they've lost eight of their last ten contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-8 record this season. As for Palmetto Ridge, their win bumped their record up to 12-2.
John Carroll Catholic will get a bit of extra time to process the loss as their next game is a ways off. They'll take on St. Edward's at 7:00 p.m. on January 12, 2024. Palmetto Ridge and Community School of Naples will face off at 7:00 p.m. on January 2, 2024 without much rest after finishing up games yesterday.
