[12/07/02]It just wasn’t Jason Brown’s night.

The St. Aloysius senior picked up three early fouls in the first quarter and sat the majority of the second and then the third after picking up his fourth foul.

The fourth quarter was another story. Down 71-68 with just over a minute remaining, Brown nailed five straight free throws to stage a dramatic comeback for a 74-71 win over Greenville-St. Joe.

The Flashes earned their first win of the season and will face Madison-St. Joe in the championship game of the Catholic Schools Tournament today at 3:30 p.m. at St. Al.

“I knew I had to make them, so I just relaxed,” Brown said. “I was really happy just to get our first win, we all wanted it, and now we’re one step closer to our golden ball.”

Kyle Richards led the Flashes with 15 points and seven rebounds, Brown scored 14 points with seven rebounds, Anthony Rector had 11 points and Alan Ebersole had nine rebounds.

The Flashes seemed to have control of the game as early as the third quarter, where they held a nine-point lead with two minutes remaining.

Just as suddenly, the Flashes turned into the team who had lost their first five games as the lead began to crumble under turnovers, “ill advised shots” and the Irish’s Rodney Esters, who scored 13 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to start a 16-4 run and notch the game at 60.

Then Esters did something that the Flashes failed to do stop himself. With 1 1/2 minutes remaining and the Irish leading 71-68, Esters fouled out and Brown took over.

“Jason was due,” Hayden said. “The excitement of playing at home, the Catholic School Tournament, good atmosphere, good crowd, and we just came out emotional.”

(G) St. Al 49, G-Ville-St. Joe 27

For the third straight year the Lady Flashes will advance to the championship game of the Catholic Schools Tournament. But instead of familiar rival Natchez Cathedral, the Lady Flashes will have to battle Madison-St. Joe to earn their third straight title.

Sarah Kerut scored 14 points with nine rebounds, Caitlin Moak had eight points and 16 rebounds and Laura Beth Lyons had 12 points as the Lady Flashes (1-5) won their first game of the year.