Instant classic: Ahmad Henderson helps Brother Rice edge Marist. ‘Everybody wants to play in a game like this.’

Living in the moment works well for Brother Rice’s Ahmad Henderson.

The Niagara-bound senior guard used that ability to his advantage in the fourth quarter Tuesday night against archrival Marist in the much-anticipated Battle of Pulaski.

“In that situation, my guys needed me to step up,” Henderson said of having the ball with 16 seconds remaining. “They look at me for a different type of leadership.

“Everybody wants to play in a game like this.”

Not everybody has Henderson’s mentality. He scored on a drive in the closing seconds, sealing the comeback for the visiting Crusaders in a 49-48 victory in Chicago.

The atmosphere was electric, with a standing-room-only crowd of approximately 3,000 magnified by dueling cheers from the boisterous student sections.

Henderson scored the final 10 points for Brother Rice (19-2), which trailed by nine points with just under five minutes left. He also achieved a personal goal, scoring his 1,000th career point.

A three-year starter, Henderson entered the game with 992 points. In the fog of victory, he could not remember the specifics of his first varsity points as a sophomore.

“I am not going to forget my last two points,” he said.

Brother Rice’s rally overshadowed superb, promising play from Marist’s young core of gifted prospects.

Sophomore guard Keshaun Vaval and sophomore forward Marquis Vance excelled in the loss for the RedHawks (17-5), who had two shots in the final seconds bounce off the rim.

Vaval scored five points during Marist’s 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter. He finished with a team-best 13 points, adding five rebounds and two assists.

“I feel like I have developed a lot since the beginning of the year, thanks to our coaching staff and my teammates,” Vaval said. “My IQ for the game is much better now.

“Everybody has really made me work harder out there, giving me all of the tools to become a better basketball player.”

Not being able to close out their rival was a tough lesson.

Vaval said the young players learned a crucial lesson about preparation, discipline and finishing strong.

“I think all of the sophomores have really good chemistry and we understand each other,” Vaval said. “We’re the same age and we are going to grow.”

A 6-foot-3 leaper, Vance was a revelation for the RedHawks, coming off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds. He was active and involved.

“Even though we lost, I feel like a game like this is a great experience for the future,” he said. “My style and focus (Tuesday night) was just going out and playing hard for my teammates.

“Now, we just have to work on closing out games.”

Brother Rice got its boost in the post from a pair of 6-7 standouts in senior Khalil Ross and junior Zavier Fitch. They had matching totals with nine points and seven rebounds.

Henderson, meanwhile, scored the Crusaders’ last five baskets on a succession of darting drives and pullup jumpers in the lane.

“He is so shifty and hard to contain,” Ross said of Henderson. “He moves so well around the basket and finding his spots. The most important thing is he can hit a shot.”

And as a senior, Henderson has come of age, delivering again for the Crusaders.

“My sophomore year, I was one of the few younger guys on the team,” he said. “I was just learning about how to play at different speeds and understand the game.

“Last year, I stepped into a bigger role and the guys looked for me to score. Now, I am a pass-first point guard and my role is get my guys involved.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.