By: Derek Toney
As Calvert Hall College’s double-digit lead against St. Frances Academy dwindled to one in the second half of Sunday’s Baltimore Catholic League semifinals at Loyola College, I leaned over to a fellow reporter on press row and said, “Here we go again.”
The Cardinals were doing what I’m come to expect the last several seasons: falling short in the big spot. There was the late regulation collapse in the closing minutes of regulation last regular season against St. Frances, followed by a disinterested showing in the rematch in the MIAA A Conference finals.
Of course, there’s the loss to Loyola Blakefield in last year’s BCL semifinals which may have been worst, considering the school’s long and rich rivalry in everything from football to X-Box. Calvert Hall was again on cue late Sunday evening.
Then a funny thing happened. The Cardinals smacked down the proverbial fat lady as she warmed her vocal cords.
Calvert Hall won the Baltimore Catholic League championship. On consecutive nights, the Cardinals beat two-time defending champ St. Frances (67-62) and tourney top-seed Mount St. Joseph (46-44), teams that have overshadowed them the last four years.
After losing back-to-back games early last week, I’ve thought the Cardinals’ legacy had been written: Good, but never as tough as St. Frances or clutch as Mount St. Joseph.
They were both at Reitz Arena, wiping out a 17-point first half deficit against the Gaels in the finals Monday, after outlasting St. Frances in overtime Sunday. I believed the Cardinals’ fate turned in overtime Sunday.
Down 62-60, Jonathan Graham fouled out and St. Frances had possession. Calvert Hall denied the Panthers, who were shutout the rest of the way. The Cardinals faced with adversity in a big game and didn’t retreat.
Though Graham has garnered most of the attention, Donya’ Jackson has been the most important player for Calvert Hall. A tremendous defender, Jackson, the BCL tournament’s MVP, developed an offensive game this season. He’s arguably the most underrated player in the Baltimore area, and will be an outstanding player for the U.S. Naval Academy.
For Jackson, Graham, Kyle Wise and Damion Lee, the senior cornerstones for Calvert Hall, it was their time and they answered the call. The last time Calvert Hall won a BCL title was in 1984 with Duane Ferrell. Back then, the Cardinals, along with Dunbar, dominated Baltimore basketball.
It’s fair to say Calvert Hall should be No. 1. Ironically, the Cardinals’ first BCL crown in three decades didn’t garner them a spot in the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament at Frostburg State later this month. Mount St. Joseph and St. Frances will be representing the BCL. The Cardinals are finally out the shadow, and their legacy can be written.
Champions.
BCL CHAMPIONSHIP VIDEO
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