Chris Baer never suited up for Brother Martin’s fabulous basketball team that has ruled Louisiana for the past two years, winning back-to-back Class 5A titles.

Before he became a Hurricane Katrina transfer from storm-ravaged New Orleans, the last time he was in a Brother Martin basketball uniform was in ninth grade.

On Friday night, Baer was in a St. Aloysius uniform, making a big difference for the Flashes in their Catholic Schools Tournament game with Greenville-St. Joseph.

Baer scored 20 of his 28 points in the final 12 minutes, which included four minutes of overtime, in the Flashes’ thrilling 73-67 win over St. Joe.

&#8220That last time I had a game like this, I was 10. I scored 21,” Baer said. &#8220It’s fun to be playing again, especially here. The gym is packed and the crowd gets into it.”

The win comes against a St. Joe team (2-2) that advanced to the Class 1A State Tournament last year. That’s something that was not lost on St. Al coach Drew McBrayer.

&#8220No doubt about it, they were by far the best team we’ve played this year,” McBrayer said. &#8220(Walter Howard) is really tough. But the thing with us, is that we’ve got some size and we did a great job of posting up.”

The inside game of Baer, John Robert Burnett and Chase Smith helped provide the difference over St. Joe’s great tandem of Howard, who had a game high 35 points, and point guard Cody Tullos, who added 16.

&#8220They just couldn’t stop us inside. All week that’s what we worked on,” said Burnett who chipped in seven of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

&#8220It’s our 40 offense and having Chase down there, and now Chris, really makes a difference. Now we’ve just got to keep Chris here. I know he’s got a girlfriend back in Louisiana, but we can find him another girl.”

St. Al (5-2) trailed by 12 late in the third quarter and entered the fourth down 10 at 48-38. Two free throws by Burnett followed by a tip-in from Smith made it 48-42.

St. Al finally drew even at 56 after an inside basket by Burnett with 3 minutes, 9 seconds left.

Baer then hit a 12-foot jumper to give St. Al its first lead since the first half.

The Flashes appeared ready to win it in regulation after Baer made one of two free throws with 26 seconds left, but Howard knocked down a 3-pointer and Travis Webster made a driving layup at the horn to tie it at 63.

In overtime, Baer scored the first five points, including a rare 3-pointer to make it 68-63. Howard’s final two points got it back to one at 68-67, but two free throws by Marsh Willis and one by Baer in the final minute locked up the win.

Smith had 18 points for St. Al.

(G) St. Al 59, St. Joe 24

The unbeaten St. Al girls tuned up for this afternoon’s showdown with St. John with a 35-point romp over an outmanned club from Greenville St. Joe.

Annie Beaugh led three Lady Flashes in double figures with 21 points. Sarah Kerut had 16 and Elizabeth Mazzanti chipped in 10.

The Lady Flashes (7-0) led 17-4 after the first quarter and 33-11 at the half. St. Joe was led by Sarah McDowell’s 10 points.