Fightin’ Irish Basketball Postseason Honors

Josh Fox ’12 and Taylor Johns ’12 are finally getting some pats on their backs after carrying the Fightin’ Irish on them all the way to Sacramento. Fox and Johns earned first and second team honors, respectively, on the San Francisco Chronicle’s All-Metro boys basketball team. Herman Pratt ’12 earned Honorable Mention. Fox was also named the Chronicle’s San Francisco Region Player of the Year. The Irish cruised to the CCS Division III title before winning the Division III Northern California State regional in stunning fashion, with a 61-57 come-from-behind win over Bishop O’Dowd. The team returned to Sacramento’s Power Balance Pavilion the following week for the Division III State Title game, which they lost nearly at the buzzer against Bishop Alemany of West Hills near Los Angeles, 71-67. Fox, Johns, and Pratt shined throughout the season, but it was Fox who put on the best show in the postseason. The 6’5" senior injured his ankle in the first half of the team’s 50-47 WCAL Final loss to eventual Division II State Champ Archbishop Mitty. He would sit out the first two games of the CCS playoffs before returning in the Finals to help lead the team to a 71-53 win over El Camino. Saving his best for last, Fox put up 21 points and 13 rebounds in the NorCal final against O’Dowd, and kept the Irish in the State title game against Alemany when Johns and Pratt were both benched for much of the second half with foul trouble. Fox finished that game with another 19 points and seven boards. Tyler Petroni ’12 was also a key contributor and the third leading-scorer for the Irish throughout the year and joined Fox and Johns at the SanFranPreps.com Michael Gragnani Memorial City All-Star Basketball Game.