Tonight, they’re partying like 1998.
That was the last time the Father Judge High School basketball team won the Catholic League championship.
Today was the latest.
Behind 10 points from Kevair Kennedy, the high-scoring Crusaders won a slow-paced street fight at the Palestra 41-34 against Roman Catholic.
It snapped a streak of two straight championships by the Cahillites.
Judge didn’t wake up early in the Sunday afternoon tip-off, trailing 10-0 late in the first quarter, and ending the stanza at 10-2.
After that, the Crusaders relied on a balanced scoring sheet, and a tough defensive performance by senior Everett Barnes to win the slugfest against the defending champions.
Junior Max Moshinski scored eight points for Judge off the bench.
Things don’t get much easier for the Crusaders. Next up is a clash with the Public League champion Imhotep. The game will be Friday, 7 p.m. at La Salle University. ••
