By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — Two years ago, St. Patrick senior standout Nick Krass led the Fighting Irish to the overall Class 3A Final Four for the first time in school history.
Now, his younger brother Matt looks to accomplish the same achievement, and perhaps take the feat even a step or so further.
Matt Krass is the current senior standout sharp-shooter for veteran head coach Keith Robinson and the Fighting Irish. Krass and his teammates head to Goodman to face perennial state power Magee Friday night.
St. Patrick takes on the Trojans at Frank Branch Coliseum on the campus of Holmes Community College at 8:30 with a berth to the overall Class 3A State Tournament Final Four on the line.

“It’s as big as it gets,” Robinson, who picked up his 1,000th career coaching win earlier this season, said. “We were not expected to be in this situation with four new starters this season.”
And, one of those starters, ironically enough, is the younger brother Krass.
After playing a supporting role to his older brother in that deep playoff run as a sophomore two seasons ago, Matt transferred to perennial state power Gulfport for his junior season. He was a part of an Admiral squad that went 19-6 and qualified for the Class 6A state playoffs as Krass averaged around 10 points per game on a squad filled with six seniors.
During the summer, Krass decided to return to St. Patrick, and he picked up right where his older brother left off two years ago.

The older Krass, Nick, left SPHS with 1,750 career points before landing at Oregon State. He’s now at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
The younger Krass has put up similar numbers this season, as he’s averaging right at 28 points per game and has enjoyed some huge games offensively.
“Matt has played very well, he grew up in our program.” Robinson added. “He understands what I want. Our team was inexperienced and we struggled early in the season against good teams. The more we played together, the better we became. I don’t think we have played our best game yet to this point, but we are getting closer.

“Matt is very coachable, and a smart player. He listens and he does what I ask of him.”
The younger Krass has been deadly from deep for SPHS, as well as creating his own shots while driving into the lane. He announced his arrival back with the Fighting Irish in fine fashion in the season-opener vs. D’Iberville posting 34 points against the Warriors.
That was just a harbinger of things to come. He drained six 3-pointers on his way to a 37-point performance against Perry Central earlier this season in Region 8-3A play and then poured in 39 points on the same team just two weeks later.

Krass dropped in 41 points against West Marion. And, in an early season matchup with George County, Krass nearly outscored the Rebels by himself with 42 points in an 83-43 win.
The dynamic antics have continued into the postseason as well.
He poured in a game-high 39 points as the Fighting Irish dismantled Seminary 85-54 in the opening round of the Class 3A South State playoffs.
He followed that up with a game-high 34 points as the Fighting Irish thumped visiting South Pike 78-51 Saturday night in the second round of the Class 3A South State playoffs.

It marked the 14th straight win for St. Patrick, which now stands a solid 23-7 overall as they head to face Magee, which smashed Jefferson County 62-37 Saturday. Krass has been at the nucleus of a Fighting Irish unit that has also gotten significant contributions at time from others including fellow guards Liam Buchanan and Jack Hewes as well as an athletic front court in the form of forwards Alex Triplett and Brendan Moton
“We know Magee has a good team,” Robinson continued. “They are big, fast, and explosive on offense. Defensively, they throw a lot of things at you.”
The Fighting Irish fell in the first round of the state playoffs last season. But, two years ago St. Patrick reeled off an impressive 31-3 mark and made it to the state finals before falling to eventual state champion Booneville 66-47 in the semifinals.
“Getting back to two out of three years would be great,” Robinson concluded. “We should have been there last year. Like I told the team one game at a time. You have to play your best.”