The first time they played Park Place Christian this season, the St. Aloysius Flashes needed a late rally and a referee’s keen eye to escape with a win.

The second time around, they didn’t let it come to that.

Alvin Brown scored a game-high 25 points, and Isaiah Thomas had 15 of his 17 points in the first half as the Flashes bludgeoned Park Place 88-67 on Tuesday.

It was a marked difference from their first meeting in December, when St. Al won 58-55 and a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer was waved off.

“The boys probably played the best game we’ve played all year. Our defense was awesome,” St. Al coach Eddie Pickle said. “We played a full court press the whole ballgame and (Park Place) didn’t handle everything very well.”

Trevor Crumedy and Nic Butts led Park Place with 13 points apiece.

St. Al (11-6) won its fourth district game in a row, after a stretch in which it had lost five of six. The winning streak has helped it move up in the standings. St. Al has three games left in the regular season. The District 3-AAA tournament starts Feb. 4.

“It solidified third place for us, and if we can beat Riverfield (on Jan. 29) we can get second,” Pickle said.

Brown and Thomas were two of the four St. Al players who scored in double figures against Park Place. Braxton Chewning finished with 14 points and Trinye Brown had 13.

Alvin Brown and Thomas each scored 15 points in the first half as the Flashes raced out to a 51-37 halftime lead, and the supporting cast came up with some key bursts as well.

Markeese Wilson scored all six of his points in the second quarter and Thomas Trichell had all five of his points in the third. Chewning also scored nine points in the third quarter.

“Shots were falling and we were able to get to the basket and make plays. It clicked,” Pickle said.

(G) Park Place 53, St. Aloysius 41
The St. Aloysius Lady Flashes had a rare lead in the third quarter, but Park Place used a flurry of 3-pointers to pull away and keep them winless on the season.

Park Place made three 3-pointers in the third quarter, two of them by Ariel Knott, to take a 37-28 lead into the fourth. Knott scored 10 points in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 22. Summer Dodson added nine points.

Kyla Goodlow led St. Al with 18 points and Taylor Chewning scored 12.
Although their record fell to 0-17, Pickle said he’s been proud of their effort and progress in a difficult season.

“I’m so proud of my girls. We had a lead in the fourth quarter and that hasn’t happened very often,” Pickle said. “They’re working hard and playing a little basketball. I’m proud of them. It’s coming. We might end up being a spoiler in the tournament.”