B-P's winter night brightened by Summers

There are times when Christian Summers feels as though someone has forced him to open his mouth and insert a 10-pound weight.

He senses that his noggin is about to . . .

Forget it! He won't let it drop!

"You can't let the younger guys see you with your head down," Summers said. "The next classes coming up are going to be good. They can't see you (reacting in negative fashion).

"It's hard to stay positive sometimes. Things can get rough. But you HAVE to do it. Just the way it is."

Summers spoke Friday night in a back hallway at West Catholic after his school, Bonner-Prendergast, topped that school, 55-52, in overtime, in a Catholic League basketball game that was often sloppy, but thoroughly competitive.

Reason: Both teams entered 0-5 in CL play while also carrying not-exactly-stellar overall records (3-11 for B-P and 1-10 for West).

"Riding down here, I definitely thought this was our chance for a league win," Summers said. "Really, I thought we should have won by more. We had taller players and more talented players. We came here to PLAY and our coaches did a great job."

Summers, a 6-3, 195-pound senior, serves the basketball squad as a springy, flash-here, flash-there small forward. His contributions included 23 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and four steals and he combined with Pat Vanderslice, a senior forward/center, for all 10 of the Friars' extra-session points.

With 4.5 seconds remaining in OT, he and Vanderslice exchanged a hearty hand slap after the latter converted a one-and-one to provide a three-point lead.

"Pat's a great free-throw shooter," Summers said. "I have confidence in him every time he's at the line."

Of course, the game wasn't over. With Jack Carden defending, Anwar Epps was a sliver long and right with a three-point attempt that was launched from a shade to the left of straight on.

"We do have the worst luck on those things," Summers said, smiling. "It seems like it always happens to us, that last shots go in. Last year, it happened three times. I was surprised it didn't go in, actually. I definitely thought it would."

He should have conferred with Carden.

"I knew it wasn't going in!" he said.

Summers' name is likely familiar with those folks who follow the fall's major sport. After missing his junior year due to concussion concerns, he fared well enough at wideout this past season to earn first team Daily News All-City honors.

Depending on how he well he tackles an upcoming standardized test, Summers could wind up at Towson. West Chester is also in the hunt.

"I do like football better," he said. "I like the contact and that so many people come out to the games. Basketball does run in our family, and it's good for staying in shape, so I do like it, too. I like the idea that there are five men working as one."

Summers shot 8-for-12 and 7-for-10 and three of his field goals came off outstanding backdoor cuts/feeds.

Vanderslice, who has already committed to Temple for baseball (righthanded pitcher), shot 7-for-17 (one trey) and 3-for-4 for his 18 points. He added six rebounds.

Nick Czibik had six boards and four assists while Tyler Higgins snatched five rebounds off the bench.

For West, soph Brandon Cole, who recently returned to duty after overcoming knee miseries, totaled 14 points and nine rebounds. Epps had 10 points, five assists and eight steals while Torey Green complemented nine points with seven rebounds and five thefts. With eight points and five rebounds, sub Jalil Branch also had good moments.

With :38 showing in regulation, Summers' backdoor bucket on a pass from Czibik created a 45-45 tie. Just before that buzzer, Cole wound up missing a possible game-winner.

For Summers, who lives in Drexel Hill, the best part about this road contest was that it required minimal travel.

"I really don't do well with far-away games," he said. "I don't know why, or what causes it to happen. The Judge game . . . Phew! I really came out flat. Just wasn't ready."

There was no such issue for Christian Summers Friday night. And once the game concluded, it took nooooo effort to keep his head held high.