Marquise Kennedy’s all-around excellence seals Battle of Pulaski win for Brother Rice

The area is rife with high-scoring guards. Every team has a hotshot athlete averaging more than 15 points a game that thinks he’s the next big thing.

Brother Rice senior Marquise Kennedy, a Loyola recruit, is at a completely different level. His shot blocking ability is freakish, his defensive instincts are razor sharp and he’s extremely efficient when it comes to scoring.

“It’s so unique, even at the high-major [college] level,” Crusaders coach Bobby Frasor said. “He does so much on the court it is unexplainable. He can be so good, he can be way better than he is. He does things that not many guards do on the college level. He’s very gifted. He’s blocking three-pointers, blocking at the rim. He’s so springy it is crazy. He’s leading us literally in every statistical category, which is insane.”

Brother Rice needed every bit of Kennedy’s talents to eke out a 76-72 win against visiting rival Marist on Tuesday.

The Crusaders (15-6) led by one at halftime. Kennedy stepped up offensively and defensively in the third quarter. His steal and dunk with 2:20 left in the third gave Brother Rice a 12-point cushion.

“They were physical,” Kennedy said. “I had to elevate my game to show that they can’t guard me.”

Kennedy finished with 28 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. He shot 7-for-10 from the field.

“Our first half defense was pretty bad,” Kennedy said. “They were scoring almost every possession. Second half we had to pick it up. We fought, got some turnovers and fast break points and that spread the gap.”

The RedHawks (10-11) surged back behind 15 points in the fourth quarter from senior Dorion Pendleton. He drained two free throws with 3:42 left to tie it at 61.

PHOTO GALLERY

Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy (24) makes his way to the basket for two points against Marist, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy (24) gets inside the paint against Marist, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Anthony Arquilla (23) gets a fast break to the basket, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Deandre Haggan (10) and Anthony Arquilla race Marist’s Jabari Hill (35) to the ball, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Marist’s Alex Knight (5) puts up a shot in the paint, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Deandre Hagan (10) attempts to block a shot put up by Marist’s Josh Morris (20), Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy (24) speeds up the ball against Marist, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Jimmy Gavin (5) pulls up a three-point shot, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy (24) tries to beat Marist’s Dorion Pendleton (22) to the ball, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Marquise Kennedy (24) gets fouled by Marist’s Dorion Pendleton (22), Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For Sun-Times

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Marist’s Alex Knight (5) tries to steal the ball away from Brother Rice’s Jimmy Gavin (5), Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice’s Anthony Arquilla (23) pulls down a rebound against Marist. Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Brother Rice fans go wild after their win against Marist, Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Marist’s Alex Knight (5) tries to steal the ball away from Brother Rice’s Jimmy Gavin (5), Tuesday 01-22-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Kennedy’s teammates came through in the clutch. Senior Anthony Arquilla made two big baskets and junior Deandre Hagan had a key three-point play with 2:28 to play to put the Crusaders up by four.

“In a one-point game, for him to get an offensive rebound, go up and score and get fouled. that was my favorite play,” Frasor said. “I was flexing over here on the sideline. That was a big time play by Deandre and I’m excited to see him maturing.”

Pendleton drained a three with eight seconds left to cut Brother Rice’s lead to 74-72 but Kennedy hit two free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Hagan scored 21 points. He was 6-for-7 from three-point range.

“When he is feeling it he is feeling it,” Frasor said. “He’s a very streaky shooter and tonight he was on the right side of the streak. He hit everything.”

Arquilla, a 6-3 senior, had 12 points and nine rebounds and senior Jimmy Gavin added 10 for the Crusaders.

“That was the best [Hagan] has ever shot, that was amazing,” Kennedy said. “[Marist] kept fighting. The key was the crowd and our energy. Both sides were punching hard but we came back.”

Pendleton finished with 20 points and senior Nile Hill added 16. Jabari Hill, an athletic 6-3 sophomore, had 10 points and five rebounds.

“I would have liked to close it out a little bit better but it is a rivalry game, they ran good stuff and got open,” Frasor said. “It was a fun Brother Rice-Marist game and I’ve glad we were on the right end of it.”