Gerstell boys hoops make the jump to MIAA A Conference

Coming off a second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference championship in February, the Gerstell Academy boys basketball team is making the jump to the A Conference next season.

The league’s competition committee, which permits league movement for the various participating sports every two years, approved Gerstall’s switch to the A Conference last month. It’s the only boys basketball program to make a move.

The Falcons enjoyed their second straight 20-plus-win season — beating St. Paul’s in the title game to finish with a 21-12 mark.

In five seasons under coach Ben Thompson, Gerstell has gone 88-61 — starting the program in the C Conference before joining the B before the 2015-16 season.

1 of 200

Dulaney's Che Evans covers his face with his jersey after the team lost the lead in the final minute to Eleanor Roosevelt during the MPSSAA Class 4A boys basketball semifinal game at University of Maryland. (Brian Krista, Baltimore Sun Media Group)

“The goal of the program since I began five years ago has been to compete in the ‘A’ Conference. The plan called for a gradual ascent,” Thompson said. “The biggest challenge will be how we deal with adversity each night, knowing that it's going to be a growing process for all of us, but the challenge is worthwhile.”

More basketball

The Maryland boys ended a four-game skid against their Pennsylvania counterparts, claiming a 101-97 overtime win in the Maryland-Pennsylvania senior all-star game at Harrisburg Christian School on Saturday.

Meade guard Mazhi Thames scored 25 points and Thomas Johnson forward JR Powe added 16 points and 15 rebounds for the victors.