Bryan Barrett's three-point basket with one second left got John Carroll to overtime, and David Padrino made six free throws in the last 68 seconds of overtime to seal a 60-55 upset victory over Boys' Latin yesterday.
This was a semifinal game in the first Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference tournament, and John Carroll, a conference title game for the first time in 10 years, will play St. Paul's for the championship at Goucher College at 4 p.m. Sunday. The Crusaders advanced with a 38-36 decision over St. Mary's.
John Carroll (14-11), the No. 3 seed in the conference's Division I, had split two regular-season games with the top-seeded Lakers (17-10), but a 61-50 decision in Bel Air last month had been accomplished when the visitors were without three regulars.
This time, the Patriots had to rally in the closing moments of regulation after seeing a 13-point third-period lead disappear. They led 48-40 at 3:49 of the last quarter, then missed the first shots in four one-and-ones.
Boys' Latin surged into the lead with a workmanlike 11-point run, a spurt that included two baskets and a foul shot by Jason Quenzer.
Mike DiLonardo, a 6-foot-3 junior, sent his side ahead for the first time since the second quarter, 50-48, when he made his third three-point shot with 46 seconds to go. Myron Hayes made it 51-48 with the first shot in a one-and-one with 11 second left, but John Carroll rebounded the miss, Jared Marmen got the ball up court and Barrett was wide open at the top of the key.
Barrett wheeled across the lane for a short shot early in overtime to send the Patriots ahead to stay, 53-51. From there, the free throws by Padrino, another 6-foot junior guard, kept Boys' Latin at bay.
"After what he had been through moments before, I was happy for Barrett," John Carroll coach Pat Goles said. "He's not a three-point shooter, but he is a player. And Padrino, who came with good offensive skills, is one of our most improved defensive players."
Another who has improved is 6-8 senior Marmen. He had 14 points and pulled down 21 rebounds. All but three of the rebounds were at the defensive end, and many of them were in what appeared to be critical situations.
The winners had four starters in double figures -- Padrino with 16 points, followed by Marmen, and Barrett and Jeff Miles with 13 apiece.
For Boys' Latin, DiLonardo, 15, and Quenzer, 10, were the only double-figure scorers.