Balanced Effort, Stout Defense Lift St. Raphael to CYO Championship Upset of Holy Family

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio — St. Raphael used smothering defense, hard fough rebounding and clutch free-throw shooting to hand previously unbeaten Holy Family its first loss in two years, claiming the 7th Grade Boys Tier I CYO championship with a 27-20 victory on Sunday at Holy Family.

The decisive moment came in the fourth quarter, when guard Bobby Fitzpatrick calmly closed out the game at the free-throw line. Fitzpatrick went 4-of-6 at the stripe in the final minutes, turning a tight contest into a two-possession lead that Holy Family could not overcome. His late scoring capped a complete effort for the Raiders, who relied on disciplined half-court defense and balanced scoring to finish off the upset.

St. Raphael set the tone on the defensive end, holding Holy Family to just eight points in the first half and matching the hosts 4-4 in the opening quarter. The Raiders began to separate in the second quarter behind a scoring surge from guard Ben DiRienzo, who attacked the lane and finished with a team-high 10 points. St. Raphael outscored Holy Family 10-4 in the second, building a 14-8 halftime advantage that proved pivotal in a game where every possession mattered.

After the break, Holy Family tried to chip away, but St. Raphael’s defense behind Benni Ross, Paddy Cox, and Danny McGlynn continued to limit clean looks. Cox, McGlynn, and Ross neutralized the guards from Holy Family all game. The Raiders managed four points in a grinding third quarter while allowing five, sending the game to the fourth with St. Raphael still in front, 18-13. Holy Family mounted one final push in the final quarter, scoring seven points, but the Raiders answered with nine of their own, including Fitzpatrick’s free throws that effectively sealed the championship.

Fitzpatrick finished with nine points, combining his late free throws with timely baskets earlier in the game. DiRienzo’s 10-point performance anchored the offense, particularly during the second-quarter run that swung momentum firmly toward St. Raphael. Forward Max Kaesgen added six points, giving the Raiders an important interior presence, while Tucker Green chipped in two points to round out a balanced attack. Pierce Kellerman, Kaesgen, and Green showed incredible grit and determination, fighting and battling on every defensive possession and rebounding on both ends of the floor.

The Raiders’ quarter-by-quarter scoring reflected their steady approach: four points in the first, 10 in the second, four in the third and nine in the fourth. Holy Family matched St. Raphael’s four points in the opening quarter but never fully recovered from being outscored 10-4 in the second. Despite a stronger second half, with 12 total points after halftime, Holy Family could not erase the early deficit against a St. Raphael defense that controlled the paint and contested perimeter shots throughout.

With the 27-20 win, St. Raphael closed out the CYO season by toppling a program that had not lost in two years, doing so with a combination of teamwork, defensive intensity and composure in late-game situations. The performance offered a statement finish for the Raiders’ 7th grade boys, who executed their game plan from the opening tip to the final free throw.