Following in the family business, Brother Rice’s Zavier Fitch turns into a double-double machine. ‘I can do it.’

Brother Rice’s Zavier Fitch has a family legacy to live up to.

The senior forward’s father, Steve, played basketball at Illinois State and his sister, Isis — who starred at Andrew and Homewood-Flossmoor — is a senior starter at Bradley.

So, is Zavier the next one to carry on the Division I tradition?

“I’m trying my hardest,” he said. “I’m still developing, so I feel like I can keep getting better. I still feel like I have a lot more room to improve. I’m just trying to go up.”

Fitch has developed into a double-double machine this season for the Crusaders.

He did it again Tuesday night, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds as Brother Rice rolled to a 56-37 Catholic League crossover win over Providence in New Lenox.

Marcos Gonzales poured in 26 points to lead the Crusaders (18-2). Tyler Wooten added seven points and Lewis recruit Cale Cosme chipped in with six.

Seth Cheney led Providence (7-10) with 16 points. Kyle Lipke had six points and seven rebounds, while Bob Jenner scored five points.

In his second varsity season, Fitch knew he would have to do more offensively after the graduation of star guard Ahmad Henderson and high-scoring forward Khalil Ross.

“Those guys were big pieces who we lost, so I knew I had to take over,” Fitch said. “It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of hours in the gym.”

At 6-foot-7, Fitch is the tallest player on Brother Rice’s roster.

But more often Tuesday, he resembled a speedy guard as he pulled down a rebound and raced down the court, taking the ball coast-to-coast and scoring or ditching off to a teammate in transition.

It’s that kind of versatility Fitch has set his sights on attaining.

“That’s really what I worked on this whole offseason,” he said. “Showing I can get out on the perimeter shooting more, dribbling the ball more and everything like that.

“I love that because I feel like I’ll always be valuable on the court, whether I’m outside or inside. Either way, I can do it.”

Brother Rice coach Conte Stamas loves watching Fitch get the Crusaders’ transition game going.

“When he’s playing on the break now, he’s really finding open people and sharing the ball,” Stamas said. “Teams aren’t able to converge on him on the break because he’s done such a good job sharing the ball, and that’s really encouraging.

“He’s playing both sides of the ball really well.”

Fitch got the Crusaders off to a quick start against the Celtics, scoring six points in the first quarter. Gonzales followed with 12 points in the second quarter as Brother Rice built a 30-14 halftime lead and cruised from there.

Gonzales scored 26 points on just 11 shots from the field, converting nine. He made 5 of 6 shots from the free-throw line.

“I like to spread the ball around more, but I sometimes get mine,” Gonzales said. “When I’m open, I’m taking the shot. I don’t like to force anything, but I’ll shoot it when it’s there.”

Gonzales is always happy to get the ball to Fitch.

“I’ve played with Zavier since second or third grade,” Gonzales said. “We have a lot of chemistry together. He puts in a lot of work and he’s getting a lot out of that work, so it’s good to see.”

One of the ways Fitch developed his work ethic was from watching his older sister, Isis, play as they grew up.

“We have very different games,” Zavier said. “But she taught me that I need to work hard, and if I stay in the gym, hard work will pay off.”