Crusaders Beat VMI in First Home Game

The Christendom Crusaders won a scrappy game against the Keydets club team of 
Virginia Military Institute to improve to a 1-1 overall record.  The Crusaders were led by 
freshman Patrick Pennefather’s double-double, 24 points and 10 rebounds, while lone senior 
Jake Wagner chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds and freshman John Echaniz added 10 points 
and 6 rebounds.  

With a back and forth battle throughout the game, Patrick Pennefather hit two freethrows with a 1:18 left to play to extend Christendom’s lead to 64-57.  A late breakdown of the defense and drive to the basket by Jerome Norton, a backdoor pass from Wagner to Pete Day for a lay-in, and late freethrows by Pennefather and Norton sealed the game and victory for Christendom, 68-59.

While there are still many things that the young team has to work on, as displayed by a 
messy first half, they showed a certain mental toughness in closing out the last several minutes of the game with defensive stops, rebounds, and quality shots and made freethrows.  As the season continues, there is room to improve, especially with a young team, but it was great to win the home opener in front a large, enthusiastic crowd of Christendom Crazies. 

The Crusaders head to Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, November 13 for a game 
versus Johnson & Wales, followed by a game versus Warren Wilson College on Saturday; two 
very tough opponents.