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Montini finds home not so sweet

Due to problems with its field last spring, Montini's softball team played all its games on the road.

At this point the Broncos boys basketball team might welcome a similar schedule.

Taking only its third loss but each on its home court, Montini fell 55-53 to Providence in overtime on Friday in a Chicago Catholic League White Division game in Lombard.

"Two weeks ago we lost by 1 (to Carmel) and just now we lost by 2, so this is our second game we lost, close. So we're just going to get right back to work tomorrow," said Montini senior guard Anthony Thompson, who scored a game-high 24 points with four 3-point baskets.

Providence's Adam Taylor wrestled the ball away after a Montini offensive rebound with about a minute left in overtime. The Celtics' Jake Mazrimas converted Ethan Petric's high-low pass for the winning basket with 41.8 seconds left in overtime.

Montini (7-3, 1-1) missed on a drive, and Providence (5-5, 1-1) went 0-1 from the foul line with eight seconds left. The Broncos' Matt Morrissey rebounded, but Montini missed a 3 and the putback attempt.

"There's no excuse. We've been in this situation multiple times," Thompson said. "Now it's just mental, and capitalizing off the times we do have the lead, and play smart with it and just finish it through."

Providence rallied from a 51-47 deficit with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter. Ethan Petric, 6-foot-8, scored off an offensive rebound. Montini missed both a 3-point try and a free throw, then Mazrimas tied the score 51-51 with 19.6 seconds left in regulation time.

Mazrimas led Providence with 18 points. Petric and Taylor added 12 apiece.

"We made a big point of emphasis getting the ball in the high post, in the middle of their (2-1-2) zone," said Providence coach Tim Trendel. "We didn't do that early in the game and then we kind of were able to do that."

The Celtics also crowded Thompson and the 6-5 Morrissey a little tighter. Thompson had 17 points by halftime, including all 12 of Montini's second-quarter points to forge a 25-22 halftime lead. Morrissey scored 12 points with 12 rebounds.

Montini came off a 78-49 win Thursday over Urban Prep - on the road.

"This year I think we're definitely having a better season. We're playing a lot more together," said senior forward Yousef Mitchell, who scored 2 points with 2 steals, a blocked shot and 6 rebounds.

"We'll finish next game," Thompson said. "I promise you that."

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