SUGAR GROVE, Ohio -- In the best rivalry that the MSL-Cardinal has to offer, Berne Union used a crucial 17-1 run in the fourth quarter to power past Fisher Catholic, 58-49.

When it appeared Fisher Catholic  (9-4)was ready to pull away leading 45-39 with seven minutes to go, Berne Union (10-2) made the run that ultimately decided Tuesday's rivalry game. On the speedy legs of junior point guard Chase McCartney, Berne Union shut down the Fisher Catholic offense for six and a half minutes, holding the Irish without a field goal until there were 27 seconds remaining in the game.

As McCartney provided for nine of his career-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, Berne Union locked down on defense and used its junior guard's blazing speed in transition to break open the game. 

McCartney struck the final blow with just under a minute remaining, taking a long rebound and beating the Irish defense down the floor for a transition bucket that put the Rockets ahead 54-46 with 1:14 remaining. 

At that point, the damage had been done, as Fisher Catholic's team-oriented offense completely stalled out with the Irish going cold from everywhere on the floor. 

Despite surging ahead with an 18-point third quarter and taking a 42-39 lead into the final frame, Fisher Catholic could not get anything to fall in the last seven minutes of the game. Defeating Berne Union in overtime the first time around this season, there was no luck of the Irish on Tuesday, as the McCartney and the Rockets were too much to handle for Fisher Catholic in the fourth quarter.

Going for 25 points, McCartney did nearly all of his damage on transition layups where he was simply too fast for the competition. Adding eight rebounds, five assists and seven steals, McCartney played a complete game to power the Rockets.

Outside of McCartney, senior forward Zane Mirgon added 15 points and five rebounds, playing a tough game on both ends of the floor. Getting all but five points from three players, sophomore forward Brock Unger added 13 points on three triples, in addition to seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Unger started the 17-1 surge with a big three that trimmed the Fisher Catholic lead to 45-39 with 6:35 remaining. 

For Fisher Catholic, the Irish offense was a complete team effort with seven different players scoring. Senior guard Max Shaw led all players with 11 points, playing a great game on the defensive end of the floor, as his scrappy play led to five steals.

Fellow senior guard Jayden Boyden added 10 points off the bench, while senior point guard Carter Brady played a complete game with eight points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Junior wing Bryson Vogel pitched in seven points, none bigger than the three he hit at the buzzer to end the third quarter. Vogel played a great third quarter, as his perimeter defense held McCartney without a field goal in the period, however Fisher Catholic's struggles on offense let the opposing junior get going.

In a matchup of the top two teams in Division IV, Berne Union struck the final blow in a matchup that should have a big impact on tournament seeding. 

With the win, Berne Union faces the toughest three game stretch of its season, as the Rockets will host Bishop Rosecrans on Thursday before heading to Harvest Prep and Wellington in the four days after that.

For Fisher Catholic, the Irish will have a similar three game stretch. Hosting Fairfield Christian on Thursday and Bishop Rosecrans on Saturday, Fisher Catholic will then head to Harvest Prep on Monday.

Chase McCartney (5'9 PG / Berne Union / 2020): In our first viewing of McCartney and our first-ever viewing of Berne Union, we came away extremely impressed with the junior guard. With great quickness and end-to-end speed, McCartney was a terror on both ends of the floor, as his everlasting motor gave Berne Union the boost it needed. Scoring 25 points, McCartney did nearly all of that damage at the rim, as he is a crafty below-the-rim finisher that showed some athleticism in the open floor, showcasing a couple euro step moves to create space. A tough on-ball defender that got into passing lanes and got his hands on everything, McCartney is the guy that makes this Berne Union team go, as he also showed a great ability to pass on the move with good accuracy. Keep an eye on McCartney, as he is one of the better sleeper juniors in the Mid-State League. 

Brock Unger (6'5 WF / Berne Union / 2021): Less than two weeks removed from breaking the Berne Union single game scoring record with a 49-point performance on 10 threes, Unger was back to his sharp-shooting self on Tuesday. A thick 6-foot-5 forward with a silky smooth stroke, Unger didn't need much space to get his shot off. Unger sets his feet quick off movement and has a quick release, as he is one of the more confident shooters that you'll find in the area. The sophomore added seven rebounds, two blocks and three steals to his stat line, playing a solid two-way game. The next step Unger has to take in his development is to get stronger so he can compete harder on the glass, as well as tightening up his handle to become a more versatile scorer. Off to a great start in what has been a breakout year, Unger has a lot of tools and solid size to project to the college level. 

Bryson Vogel (6'4 W / Fisher Catholic / 2020): The best prospect on the Irish roster, Vogel had a decent outing with seven points. The junior is a rangy wing with a smooth stroke. We were impressed with his ability to defend out on the perimeter, as he stayed in front of the speedy McCartney for long stretches in the third quarter. A solid athlete who should continue to improve in the Fisher Catholic program, Vogel could be a potential breakout senior a year from now. 

Carter Brady (5'11 PG / Fisher Catholic / 2019): Brady has a strong outing on both ends of the floor, finishing with eight points, six rebounds, seven assists and four steals. A tough senior guard who was engaged throughout, Brady made plays off the dribble, knocked down a three and found open teammates within the Fisher Catholic offense.