There is no doubt that Wednesday November 23, 2011, will be a memorable night for Coach Pat Richardson, in all regards. On that night, the Crusaders easily defeated Urban Prep at the Riverside-Brookfield Thanksgiving Tournament by a score of 66-51. Another win was placed in his record book, but this win was different from the rest. It was number 400.
In his 23 years at Brother Rice, Richardson has become a legend in the state of Illinois because of the successful teams which he has produced year after year. The results that he has created at Rice are impressive, to say the very least. Not only has he coached eight Chicago Catholic League Championship teams, but also achieved ten Regional Championships, four Sectional Championships, one Super-Sectional Championship, and one Elite Eight appearance.
In addition to the incredible teams Richardson has coached, exceptional players have played under him. Exactly forty All-Catholic League players have played for him in a short span of 23 years. Legendary names like Jim Sexton, Rico Hill, Britt Booker, Tim O’Neill, Mark Telander, Marty Masterson, Dave Telander, Bobby Frasor, and Adam Gregoriou all wore the maroon and orange.
When one thinks of Rice basketball, the Crusader Crazies, or even a wintery Friday night on the Southside, you can bet Pat Richardson also comes to an individual’s mind. It is simply stunning to look back on all the accomplishments that he has achieved. Hundreds of teenagers have played under Richardson at Rice, and it is immeasurable the number of lives he has touched throughout the years.
After the win against Urban Prep, Coach seemed to have the same reactions and emotions as the other 399 games; he knew that his players could perform better, and they would have to shape up their game for their next opponent on Friday night. For him, it was just another game, and no time was available for him to celebrate his professional achievements. Instead, he remained humbled as a result of the victory and knew there was a long season ahead. For anyone who played under Richardson, he know these actions are typical because his players always come first.
The Crusaders achieved number 400 for Richardson first by defeating Rich Central on Monday night by a score of 62-46, then taking care of Urban Prep on Wednesday. Against Rich Central, Rice struggled to get the jitters out in the first half and trailed by two at halftime. The second half was a completely different story. Senior forward Garrett O’Neill opened the third quarter with a pair of three-pointers that put the Crusaders on top. It was smooth sailing from there as Rice scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to go on to an easy victory.
They finished the game shooting a perfect 16 for 16 from the free-throw line, with the help of some clutch performers. O’Neill racked up 12 points, along with 7 assists, while shooting 6 for 6 from the line. In usual fashion, junior forward Alex Majewski ripped down 8 rebounds and was their second-leading scorer with 14 points. Even though he did not play to his full potential, Majewski still dominated the game, and it will be a sight to see when he unleashes his full potential. The best performance of the night came with a bit of a surprise; sophomore forward Ray Rubio stepped up big in his first varsity contest. His 15 points led the Crusaders, and he shot a significant 6 for 10 from the field.
On Wednesday, it was time for Richardson’s quest for 400, and Rice did what needed to be done by securing a victory. Both Majewski and O’Neill had 13 points apiece, but the opportunity came for other stars to shine. Two other outstanding players were senior guard Sean Fitzpatrick and junior point guard Jimmy Barista. A huge third quarter defensive performance came when Fitzpatrick took a charge to stop Urban Prep’s momentum. On his first game back after being out because of a hip pointer, Barista did a fantastic job controlling the ball and nabbing a team-high 7 rebounds.
O’Neill was asked for his reaction to Richardson’s 400th win, and remarked, “It is an honor to play in a game where Coach got his 400th win, and hopefully he can get many more before my career is over.”
When all is said and done, the Brother Rice family is proud of everything that you have accomplished over the years, Coach. We thank you for dedicating yourself to this school and this program. It has been entertaining watching you transform a bunch of teenage Crusaders into a team of champions. Most of all, we hope that you will stick around for another 400 victories.
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