An opportunity to repeat as Baltimore Catholic League champion didn't come easy to the John Carroll boys basketball team.
In Friday's quarterfinal against St. Maria Goretti, the No. 3 Patriots needed three overtime periods to advance. In Saturday's semifinal against St. Frances, they got a free throw from senior forward Jarred Jones with .3 of a second on the clock to come away with a controversial 42-41 win over the No. 10 Panthers at Stevenson University in Owings Mills.
It's the eighth straight time John Carroll has gotten the better of St. Frances over the past two seasons. This win sends the Patriots (28-6) to Sunday afternoon's BCL title game against Mount St. Joseph (26-6) in a rematch of last weekend's Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship — a 44-41 John Carroll win. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Stevenson.
After St. Frances junior guard Tevon Saddler made one free throw with 23 seconds left to tie the game at 41, the Patriots set up for the final shot. When sophomore guard Kamau Stokes' pull-up jumper with three seconds left missed the mark, the Panthers grabbed the rebound but were called for traveling after the rebounder fell to the ground with the ball with .6 of a second left. The Patriots, inbounding on their baseline, got the ball inside the paint to Jones, who was fouled as he was trying to put the ball up as the final whistle blew.
The referees conferred, put more time on the clock and sent Jones to the foul line. While one referee was discussing the call with St. Frances coach Nick Myles, another referee gave the ball to Jones, who made his first try. After further discussion among the referees, Jones' first free throw was taken away. Returning to the line, Jones missed, then hit nothing but net on his second try to send the Patriots to the title game.
“I was just taking my time, I was focused. I took a breath and knew that if I made a free throw, it would be over,” said Jones, who finished with 12 points and six rebounds. “I knew they were going to come out with their last fight — they weren't ready to leave. They want a championship, and we were determined to get another championship to show we're the best team.”
After the teams went through the line to shake hands, some tempers apparently flared as they went to their respective locker rooms, but nothing escalated after they were separated.
Early in the game, it appeared as if the Patriots were going to roll a win, keeping the Panthers from scoring a field goal until there was 5:41 left in the second quarter. But the Patriots would build only a 12-3 advantage, giving the Panthers time to get on track.
Behind a 17-point performance from junior guard Michael Warren, the Panthers would claim a 33-26 lead in the final minutes of the third quarter before the Patriots responded. John Carroll freshman guard Justin Jenifer scored five of his nine points in the fourth quarter, and Stokes (14 points) hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Patriots in position to win by getting Jones on the foul line.
Myles was disappointed with how things ended but proud of the way his team was able to get back in the game after the slow start.
“I think the kids played hard, and as a coach, that's all I can ask of them,” Myles said. “You just hate to see game end like that — it's not fair to the kids, but it is what it is and you have to move forward.”
SF—
Saddler 11, Heard 4, Warren 17, White 2, Cook 4, T. Costley 3.
Totals: 11 15-20 41.
JC—
Stokes 14, Jones 12, Elliott 5, Jenifer 9, James 2.
Totals: 14 9-19 42.
Half:
JC, 19-17.