By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles Coach Jonathan Hernandez isn’t quite ready to say that the student has become the master. But at the very least, he’s earned some family bragging rights for the holidays.

Hernandez and his Comets traveled to face St. Martin’s Tuesday night in a game that had one very interesting wrinkle – St. Martin’s is coached by Hernandez’s father, Jerry.

And when a potential game-tying three pointer by St. Martin’s fell short late in the fourth quarter, all that was left for each Hernandez to do was to watch the Comets’ O.J. Watkins sink two foul shots to ice a 43-38 win for St. Charles.

“It was a battle back and forth,” said Jonathan. “I knew he’d have them battle back after we got the lead. I feel like the better athletes won, but the better coach did not in this case.”

St. Charles (5-2) jumped out to a 20-8 lead after a quarter, but St. Martin’s cut the lead to seven at the half, 26-19. From there, the momentum swung back and forth until St. Martin’s drew within three late.

“This was our closest game of the year, and it’s good for them to play in a game like this and see how it feels,” said Jonathan.

DeMarcus Bernard scored 11 points to lead the Comets. Austin Martin scored eight.

While Jonathan remarked that coaching against his father was a great experience, he says that given the choice, he’d much rather the elder Hernandez be on his side of the floor.

“I’d rather he be sitting on my bench, to tell the truth,” said Jonathan. “It was kind of unsettling, because I never knew what kind of adjustments he would throw at us.”

Jerry concurred with that assessment.

“He told me ‘Great game. Let’s not do it again,’” Jonathan joked.

The win was St. Charles’ second this week, after a 66-35 win over Fisher on Monday.

St. Charles led 16-10 after the first quarter, but the Comets outscored Fisher 23-4 in the second quarter, effectively putting the game away.

Bernard scored 19 to lead the Comets. Martin scored 11.

It was the first game that St. Charles was able to dress out its players who played on the football team this season. The Comets’ football season ended last Friday night in a playoff loss to Lutcher.

“We were able to create some turnovers with our fullcourt pressure,” said Hernandez. “We established a big lead early, and never allowed them to get back in it.”