Just about everything is new this season for Brother Rice’s Adam McBrearty.
The junior forward is at a different school after transferring from Mount Carmel. He’s in his first year of varsity basketball. And he’s being asked to play a different role than he’s accustomed to.
One thing remains the same, though. McBrearty always plays with passion and full effort. And now he’s giving his new team a big boost off the bench.
“When I’m on the bench, I try to keep everybody hyped up,” he said. “I try to start most of the chants. When I get in the game, if the team is down on energy, I know I can bring them energy right away.
“If they already have a bunch of energy, I know I can just build on that and take it even higher.”
McBrearty certainly energized the host Crusaders on Wednesday night. He tied his career high with 21 points, scoring 19 in the second half of a 64-47 Catholic League Blue win over St. Laurence in Chicago.
Aiden Henderson and Joe Niego added 16 points apiece for Brother Rice (13-6, 2-2), with Niego also coming up with six rebounds. Quinn Nolan scored eight points.
The Crusaders avenged a 58-46 loss to the Vikings on Dec. 30 in the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic championship game.
Markese Peoples led St. Laurence (18-3, 2-2) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Reggie Stevens scored 15 points, while Noah Corro chalked up seven points and seven rebounds.
McBrearty, meanwhile, took over in the second half. He poured in 11 points in the third quarter and added eight more in the fourth. The Crusaders led most of the way and pulled away for good with a 10-0 run in the fourth that built their edge to 60-45.
The 6-foot-4 McBrearty was just about unstoppable under the basket. That’s more impressive when considering he had not played in the lane much before this season.
“Last year, I was more of a get downhill, shoot threes guy, not as much post-up stuff like I’m doing this year,” he said. “But the way I score doesn’t matter. If the ball goes in the basket from me or other people, that’s all I care about. Just as long as we win the game.”
McBrearty apparently is at his best against the Vikings. He also scored 21 points in the teams’ first meeting.
Brother Rice coach Rick Romeli is confident McBrearty can always provide his team with a boost.
“He brings us energy and a little spark,” Romeli said. “He’s really embraced the role. In a lot of ways, he could really start for us. But from a rotational standpoint for us, it flows a little bit better with him coming off the bench.
“We’re trying to get him in as soon as we can to get that spark.”
Niego scored 14 points in the first half but sat for much of the second half as he dealt with some pain in his knee.
That meant extended playing time for McBrearty, who Niego was confident would be ready.
“Adam’s a tough kid,” Niego said. “Me and him go at it every day in practice and he makes me better and I make him better. When he gets in the game, he gets after it right away.
“When he’s in there, I know we’re going to play with toughness and grit and I like our chances over anyone.”
McBrearty grew up playing soccer in addition to basketball, but the latter won his heart despite some family ties to the former.
“My dad (Eddie) came from Ireland so he was a big soccer guy,” McBrearty said. “He wanted me to play soccer and I played from fourth to eighth grade.
“But when it came down to it, he didn’t really care what sport I wanted to play. He just wanted me to be happy and I just love basketball.”