FROSTBURG -- Archbishop Spalding gave defending champion DeMatha all it could handle in the marquee game of yesterday's 39th Alhambra Tournament at Frostburg State University.
The Cavaliers (29-5), No. 2-ranked in metro Baltimore, lost their leading scorer, Tremane Robinson, and coach Tony Martin in the third quarter and ultimately the game by 70-59.
Robinson (eight points, eight rebounds) was stunned by an elbow to his right eye with 2: 20 remaining in the third period and was later taken to Cumberland's Sacred Heart Hospital.
Arguing that his downed player had been illegally struck, Martin was given a pair of technicals and ejected.
Losing their momentum, the Cavaliers did not recover against the perennial highschool power from Hyattsville. They did fight back to get within 61-55 with 1: 18 left before the Joe Forte-led Stags pulled away. Forte led all scorers with 27 points and Keith Bogans chipped in 19.
Seeking their 16th Alhambra title and fourth in the 1990s, the Stags (26-4) escaped in the day's fourth and final game to advance to today's 9 p.m. semifinal against Wheaton's Good Counsel (29-3).
Spalding will play Canadian entry Cathedral (26-4), an 88-68 loser to Good Counsel, in a consolation semifinal at 5: 45 p.m. today.
Robinson was elbowed in the eye with 2: 20 left in the third and DeMatha leading 41-37. With Robinson on his knees and holding his bleeding left eye, Martin complained vociferously and was assessed technicals twice, an automatic ejection.
No foul was called on DeMatha.
The Stags failed to take advantage of the technicals, however, scoring only one point in the gift situation. The Stags took a 45-42 lead into the final eight minutes and built it to 10 at 59-49.
The Cavaliers started the game strongly with Derrick Snowden, who had a team-high 15 points and seven assists, assisting on three baskets and scoring five points for an 18-17 Spalding lead after the initial eight minutes.
Forte started the game with a three-pointer for the Stags, but Snowden answered almost immediately with a three of his own to show the Cavaliers were not to be intimidated. Aleksandar Pavlovic also had a first period three-pointer for the Cavs.
The momentum did not carry over into the second period as the Stags went on a 6-0 run to take a 23-18 lead. Spalding came back to tie it at 23 on a trey by Pavlovic (12 points) and a jumper by Robinson.
It was back and forth the rest of the way, as Spalding mixed the tempo.
A three by sophomore Chris Ravello put Spalding within 31-30 with two minutes left in the half, but the Stags took a 33-30 advantage to the break after a pair of free throws by Forte.
Baltimore-area teams have won only three of the previous 38 tournaments. Coach William Wells' St. Frances Academy last won in 1996. Before that, only Calvert Hall under Mark Amatucci in 1982 and Towson Catholic under Paul Baker in 1962 have won.
Towson Catholic falls by 9
Philadelphia's Roman Catholic (26-4) defeated No. 3-ranked Towson Catholic, 65-56. The local Owls (25-7) play host Bishop Walsh (11-13), a 101-54 loser to Washington's Gonzaga (28-5) at 4 p.m. today in the consolation semifinals.
Just a few weeks ago, Roman Catholic routed Baltimore's top-ranked Dunbar, the Class 2A state champion, by 25.
Towson Catholic junior Gil Goodrich and freshman Darnell Hopkins had 24 and 12 points, respectively, yesterday.
That wasn't enough to overcome the Callihites' inside duo of 6-8 Ed Griffin and 6-5 Tamal Forchion, who combined for 49 points and 27 rebounds.
Goodrich hit five of nine from three-point range for 15 of his points. The Owls' 6-foot-6 senior Thabo Letsebe scored six points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
All-Baltimore City-County guard Keith Jenifer had a rare off day, sinking only four of 19 from the floor for eight points, a season low. Jenifer, who had three assists, averaged 16.5 points this season.
A host of college coaches, including North Carolina's Bill Guthridge and Mount St. Mary's 800-game winner Jim Phelan watched at at Bobcat Arena.
Roman Cath. 65, Towson Cath. 56
TOWSON CATHOLIC -- Jenifer 8, Johnson 4, Letsebe 6, Thornton 2, Goodrich 24, Hopkins 12. Totals 22 6-11 56.
ROMAN CATHOLIC -- Griffin 28, Wild 7, Forchion 21, Keynatta 3, Huggins 6. Totals 25 14-20 65. Half: RC 41-27.
DeMatha 70, Spalding 59
SPALDING -- Snowden 15, Robinson 7, Pavlovic 12, Johnson 10, Bowen 6, Hudson 6, Ravello 3. Totals 21 10-12 59.
DEMATHA -- Edelin 6, Sadusky 4, Wentt 7, Bogans 19, Forte 27, Collins 5, Jackson 2. Totals 24 20-29 70. Half: D 33-30.
Other scores
Gonzaga 101, Bishop Walsh 54
Good Counsel 88, Cathedral (Hamilton, Ont.) 68
Pub Date: 3/19/99