No Fluke Febuary 5,2007 By Demetrius Carter: The whole spartan program has stepped up dramatically coming of of these past ten games.
The sophmores starters are staying consistant. Thier bench players are playing big roles in both conference and non-conference games.
The Varsity are red hot coming of thier heartbreaking lost to DeLasalle.

Big Finishers January 12,2008 By Demetrius Carter: The freshmen Spartans take another conference game easily. Even thoug the freshmen spartans are no longer undefeated overall, they are still undefeated in thier conference and ahead of thier compition.
Double Header January 11,2008 By Demetrius Carter, Today was one of the biggest days of the program and both the souphmores and the varsity pulled of wins at home.
Hales beats Rice at own game January 8, 2008 By Scott Powers, Hales Franciscan coach Gary London has played at Brother Rice enough to know the Crusaders don’t miss often in their own gym. Before Tuesday’s game, London asked his own players why they couldn’t be just as good on the same floor on the same rims in the same gym. In a rare occurrence at Brother Rice, Hales Franciscan did just that. The No. 6 Spartans knocked down seven three-pointers and built a 20-point lead in the first half as they went on to defeat the Crusaders 59-53 in the Catholic League South matchup. “I was surprised,” said London, whose team won its ninth-straight game. “One of the things I know is it’s a great shooters’ gym. I told our shooters, ‘You should feel comfortable here, too.’” Hales’ D.J. Cooper and Brandon Spearman followed that philosophy. Cooper came out and knocked two three-pointers in the opening quarter and added another in the second quarter as he scored 11 of 13 points in the first half. Spearman, who came off the bench, followed Spearman’s lead in the second quarter. Not needing anytime to warm up, Spearman hit his first two shots – back-to-back three-pointers from the right corner – and helped Hales to its large lead. “I just felt it” said Spearman, who finished with 12 points. “This was a big game. I wanted to step up for the team.” Brother Rice began chipping at Hales’ lead in the second half and got it to 57-51 with two minutes left. At that point, Cooper and Spearman stepped up one final time. Cooper drove the baseline; Spearman cut to the rim, Cooper found him; Spearman dropped in the layup to finish off Brother Rice. “They know if they cut I’ll find them,” said Cooper, who also had nine assists, four rebounds and three steals. Krys Randolph (17 points), Sean O’Reilly (17 points) and Mike Kennedy (11 points) led Brother Rice. Photo Gallery Hales Franciscan’s Phillip Williams tries to score over Brother Rice’s Mike Kennedy (left). Hales Franciscan’s Josh Crittle goes up for a shot against Brother Rice. Hales Franciscan’s D.J. Cooper and Brother Rice’s Krys Randolph (left) chase a loose ball.

Hales Franciscan’s Matt Humphrey defends Brother Rice’s Dan O’Brien (near).

Hales head coach Gary London calls for his team to defend Rice’s Krys Randolph. Hales Franciscan’s D.J. Coopers dribbles through Brother Rice’s defense.

Brother Rice’s Krys Randolph delivers a pass.

Posted By Demetrius Carter

Bouncing Back

The sophmores bounce back in premium fasion pertaining to thier Championship win aginst the Farrgut Cardinals.

"I knew we were going to bounce, we always do." said head coach Darrl Saunders.

Photo Gallery

December 29,2007
By Dan Ruane

Hales Franciscan took its lumps early this season when it traveled out of the area to play some of the nation’s strongest teams.
Hales coach Gary London believes his team bonded during those trips, and that has led to the Spartans’ recent unselfish play.
No. 8 Hales catapulted to its seventh straight win by racing past No. 21 Bloom 63-48 to capture the Big Dipper tournament title Saturday at Rich South. It was the Spartans’ second title at the Dipper. They also won in 2002 against Bloom.
‘‘We played in games in Peoria, Kentucky and Florida already this year,’’ London said. ‘‘The Florida trip, especially, was good because we were down there for five days and played only one game a day.
The kids got a chance to hang out together and bond. I think that’s a big reason for the way they are playing so unselfishly.’’
Hales used its defense to take a second-quarter lead. After allowing Bloom to take a 15-14 lead on 63 percent shooting in the first quarter, the Spartans (11-5) picked up the intensity and held the Blazing
Trojans (11-5) to just seven second-quarter points en route to a 30-22 halftime lead.
D.J. Cooper made three free throws with 5:53 to play that gave the Spartans a 20-17 lead they would not relinquish. Cooper, who was named to the all-tournament team, finished with 20 points and five steals.
Hales’ unselfish attitude especially showed in the fourth quarter, when the Spartans consistently made an extra pass to set up easy baskets. Matthew Humphrey, the tournament MVP, twice passed up a good shot to give the ball to Marcus Campbell for a better shot.
Humphrey finished with 12 points and five assists, and Campbell finished with 11 points, all in the fourth quarter.
‘‘[Unselfish play] is what you get when you play with guys for three years like we have,’’ Humphrey said. ‘‘Everybody is clicking right now.’’ Bloom cut the lead to 34-31 with 2:50 left in the third quarter on a basket by Aaron Nelson, but it could not sustain any momentum. Nelson finished with 10 points, and his brother Jawan had 11.
In the third-place game, No. 15 Lincoln Park defeated Rich South 52-45. Brandon Ross led the Lions (10-2) with 26 points, and Jeremy Montgomery added 17. Crandall Head scored 15 for the Stars (6-6).
Posted by:Demetrius Carter

December 28, 2007
Hales Franciscan will return to the Big Dipper championship game for the first time since 2004 due in large part to the torrid shooting of guards D.J. Cooper and Matthew Humphrey.
The No. 8 Spartans (10-5) won their sixth consecutive game with a 69-51 victory over No. 15 Lincoln Park in the semifinals.
``We know Matthew is going to get his shots and be productive,’’ Hales coach Gary London said. ``D.J. is so unselfish that he is reluctant to shoot. We had to tell him to shoot it more.’’
Hales took control of the game in the third quarter by outscoring the Lions (9-3) 20-6 to break a tie-game and to take a 55-41 lead.
Humphrey and Cooper combined with 6-8 center Josh Crittle to score all but two of the Spartans points in the quarter. Humphrey led Hales with 21 points while Cooper scored 19. Both guards hit five three pointers for the game.
``We started the season off in a slump,’’ Cooper said. ``It was when we started making our shots that we got on a roll.’’
Crittle had 14 points on the inside.
``It’s so much easier for me in the paint when those guys are hitting their shots,’’ Crittle said. ``We made a couple of defensive adjustments at half. We rotated to the ball much better.’’
Hales stepped up its defensive effort in the quarter as well. After the Lions shot 60 percent from the field in in the first half, Hales held them to just 33 percent in the third quarter.
Brandon Ross led Lincoln Park with 18 points but was held scoreless in the third quarter. Jeremy Montgomery scored 13 points but sat out the entire fourth quarter.

Re-posted by:Demetrius Carter