Coach Regan Sweeney's Blue 'Cats will take a record of 11-3 and a four-game winning streak into Saturday's 10 AM first-round match up with John Marshall in the annual Sullivan Showdown. This corner will provide coverage on Sunday's semifinals and Monday's finals from storied Father Sullivan Gymnasium.

 By Eddie Dwyer

 Ohio City - No, it wasn't the most fundamentally sound game the Blue 'Cats have played this season.

 The players know that and so do their outstanding coaches, Head Coach Regan Sweeney '11 and his savvy assistants Mark Hester and T.J. DiSanto '06.

 Coach DiSanto probably said it best when he reminded the players after Tuesday's seven-point victory over an upset-minded Benedictine team that it is an honor to have the opportunity to play basketball at Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School.

 Yes, the Freshmen Blue 'Cats, like every team at every level in Saint Ignatius' Basketball Program, has had their share of health issues the past two weeks.

 That said, Tuesday night's "sloppy" moments were, in Coach Sweeney's opinion, a result of Saint Ignatius Blue allowing the young, but determined Bengals to speed the game up.

 "They sped us up and we made some poor decisions," Coach Sweeney said. "The second half, we came out and went on a little run there. We were up by double digits and that was about it until the end of the game."

 Clinging to a three-point lead at halftime that was fueled by a 3-pointer from guard Nick Longano and a smooth 1-hander in the lane by forward Will Yontek, the Blue 'Cats, on the strength of a breakaway layup by forward Chris Snyder, an authoritative driving 1-hander down the lane from guard Andrew Chime, another Snyder basket off an assist from Yontek and a 3-pointer by guard Jacob Rocky, led, 40-33, entering the final seven minutes.

 Saint Ignatius appeared to be in control after building a 12-point lead with 3 minutes and 25 seconds remaining to be played. That surge was created by a strong move down low by ever-present post Henry Raynor, a tip-in from Raynor, baskets by forward Luke Roggenburk and guard Jack Dunstan, and two never-a-doubt free throws from Longano.

 The Bengals had one last roar, however, as they went on a 10-2 run that made it a four-point game in the final minute.

 Coach Sweeney's 'Cats sealed the deal, however, courtesy of three clutch free throws from Dunstan.

 Snyder led the Blue 'Cats with 18 points and was supported by Raynor's eight points and seven-point nights from Longano, Rocky and Dunstan.