Sentinel 1/4/98
by Rick Eggleston

They may not duke it out on the football field in the fall, but on the winter hardwood both teams cant wait
to bring it on.
Such was the scene in front of a rambuctious standing room only crowd at the Academy Street Brickyard
Saturday night, where longtime city boys baskerball forces St. Bernards and Fitchburg collided, renewing
a great rivalry.
A virtual tooth-and-nail battle described the first half of play between the two teams before the Red Raiders
used a 12-2 run to start the second half en route to a 85-65 victory.
Scoring 17 of his total 32 points in the first half Fitchburg senior forward Jon Gauvin led the Red Raiders
offensive strike,and smiled at a sigh of relief at games end at what has his team riding high on as 6-0 start to its season.
"This is a very big win,"Gauvin said ."It's always a battle when these two teams play - it's for in-town bragging
rights."
But the Red Raiders wouldnt be the only ones left bragging, as the Saints stuck itto their taller quicker rivals
behind a game high 34 points from juinor guard Josh Ferreiras, and a never-say-die attitude during both the first half and down the stretch.
"This is a very good accomplishment for their team.I compliment them, and am greatful they wanted to play
us," Fitchburg coach Doug Grutchfield said, "They're a good team, and forunately we won the game."
According to St. Bernards coach Mark Pierce, his team which led by as many as 6 points early on, never quit.
"It's hard thing to do , to play a team like Fitchburg- especially at hom," Pierce said. "We just want to take this and learn from it - we'll see them again."
It wont be long enough before the Red Raiders see the likes of Ferreiras again, who single handedly lit up Fitchburgs man zone defense knocking down six 3- pointers, including two straight during the late goings-on to send
a chill down Fitchburgs spine.
"He would've made us nervous if it wasnt for our nice lead," Grutchfiled said. "He had a great game."
Saint forward Jeff Perry( 11 points) jumper in the key gave St. Bernards it's largest lead of the first half at 15-9, when Fitchburgs Matt Creamer drained his only tray of the night, igniting a half concluding 30-13 run by the Red Raiders.
During the drive the Saints managed to tie it at 25-25 one last time following a Patrick Fitzgerald lay-up, but Fitchburgs big man, Keith Leavitt's (14 points, 9 rebounds) layin put the Raiders out in front for good.
Gauvin, meanwhile , closed out the half accounting for eight of 10 Red Raider points down the stretch, including a draining a pair from the charity stripe