Most basketball teams typically feel much more confident about postseason fortunes when the team boasts an experienced backcourt.
In this regard, the Faith Christian boys team is reveling in riches.
Senior guard Jordan Colson and junior Nathan Rindels, a mainstay for the team since his freshman season, each came up big in the fourth quarter Saturday, providing the Eagles with a steadying presence as they pulled away for a 53-42 victory over Bishop Machebeuf in the Class 3A Metropolitan League district tournament final at the ThunderDome.
“They hit some huge shots in critical moments and gave us the cushion we needed,” said Faith coach Andrew Hasz, whose team has won 19 consecutive games. “It is nice as a coach.
“They work hard. . . . Jordan, he’s been working hard for me since he was about 8 years old. It’s fun to see those things come and bear fruit in these kinds of settings.”
Faith Christian (21-1) led by only three points going into the fourth when Colson and Rindels took control, combining to hit three 3-pointers and knock down 7-of-8 free throws during the final frame.
Rindels connected on a 3-pointer in the early moments of the fourth, and soon afterward Colson and Rindels made consecutive 3-pointers to jump-start a 10-2 run by the Eagles.
Faith calmly stepped to the free-throw line to make 13-of-16 attempts in the fourth, taking advantage of a 37-5 discrepancy overall in free-throw attempts.
Rindels led the defending 3A state champions with 16 points and Colson finished with 15.
“We were trying to play unselfish ball,” Colson said. “The first half, we were playing kind of selfish.
“We just tried to move the ball as much as we could. Having that experience definitely helps. We just have to look forward to the next team. We’ll just come out, play the next team and try to win another state championship.”
Bishop Machebeuf 7 4 15 16 — 42
Faith Christian 12 7 10 24 — 53
Bishop Machebeuf — Murdock 0 0-1 0, Heher 4 0-1 10, Madrid-Andrews 2 0-0 4, Kipp 5 0-0 11, Griffin 1 0-0 2, Garcia 0 2-2 2, Velarde 3 0-0 6, Lambert 1 0-0 2, Fitsum 1 0-0 2, Jones 1 0-0 3, Turner 0 0-1 0. Totals 18 2-5 42.
Faith Christian — Chapman 1 2-4 5, Rindels 4 6-6 16, Marshall 1 2-2 4, Colson 4 6-8 15, McCartney 1 3-9 5, Finnefrock 1 4-6 7, Buchmann 0 1-2 1. Totals 12 24-37 53.
3-point goals — Heher, Jones; Rindels 2, Chapman, Finnefrock, Colson. Fouls — Bishop Machebeuf 25, Faith Christian 15.
