St. Christopher’s Holds Off Collegiate Rally, Wins 79–70 (2/13)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a moment midway through the fourth quarter where it felt like the entire gym shifted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collegiate had been down big at the half. The energy was flat, the Saints were rolling, and St. Christopher's looked every bit the deeper, more athletic group. But behind an explosive second-half performance from Danny Mooney, the Cougars clawed their way back and made it uncomfortable late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the end, though,&nbsp;St. Christopher's School&nbsp;had too much firepower and too much versatility, holding off&nbsp;Collegiate School&nbsp;79–70 on their home floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Saints Set the Tone Early</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Chris established control in the first half with pace and pressure. They ran in transition, attacked gaps off the dribble, and used their athleticism to create separation. When the Saints are clicking, they can score in bunches — and that's exactly what happened before the break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They shared the ball well, spaced the floor, and forced Collegiate to guard multiple actions. By halftime, the Saints had built a sizable lead that felt even larger because of how comfortable they looked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But Collegiate wasn't done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Danny Mooney","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Collegiate","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Rockit ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6993f02682b5f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">If there was one player who refused to let the game slip away, it was&nbsp;Danny Mooney.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mooney poured in&nbsp;41 points&nbsp;in a takeover performance on the road. He knocked down&nbsp;6 three-pointers. He shot&nbsp;42% from deep. He went&nbsp;9-for-9 from the free throw line. He finished&nbsp;7-for-10 inside the arc. He also pulled down&nbsp;10 rebounds, securing a double-double in the process.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the numbers only tell part of the story.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mooney controlled the tempo. He changed speeds, created space off the bounce, and made tough shots with defenders draped all over him. Every time St. Chris tried to stretch the lead back out, he answered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's one of the best 2028 guards in the state. This is not just because he can score. It is also because he understands the game. He plays with poise and has a high IQ. He sees the floor like a veteran. He is completely comfortable taking over when needed. The change of pace, the playmaking feel, the confidence late — it's advanced for his age.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">College programs are going to track his development closely over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam Settar and Henry Broast each added 10 points for Collegiate. This gave the Cougars secondary scoring. It also kept pressure on the Saints' defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2958182' first='Damari' last='Smith']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"St. Chris","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6993f02682d9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While Mooney was catching fire,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='2958182' first='Damari' last='Smith']&nbsp;made sure the Saints never lost control.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith finished with&nbsp;24 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals, consistently putting pressure on the defense. He's one of the most dynamic point guards on the East Coast and the top lead guard in the state. His combination of athleticism and aggression makes him tough to contain.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's just as comfortable knocking down open jumpers as he is attacking downhill and finishing through contact. When the game tightened in the fourth quarter, Smith didn't panic — he attacked.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">That's what high-level guards do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2252300"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6993f02682ec2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Inside,&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='2252300' first='Darius' last='Gray']&nbsp;was steady and physical all night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray posted another double-double with&nbsp;17 points and 11 rebounds, using his strength and presence to control the glass. He carved out space, finished around the rim, and made Collegiate pay on second-chance opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">His physicality shifted possessions and wore down defenders. He's a pivotal piece for the Saints and a major reason they continue to find success against quality opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thoughts</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collegiate showed resilience, cutting a large deficit down and making St. Chris earn it in the second half. Mooney's 41-point effort was one of the best individual performances you'll see this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But St. Christopher's depth, versatility, and athleticism ultimately won out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a night filled with star power, the Saints made just enough plays down the stretch. They secured the 79–70 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two talented programs. Big-time individual performances. And a reminder that when March approaches, execution matters just as much as momentum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->