The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

Bishop Walsh earns first A.C.I.T. win since 1996
* Jones, defense takes over final two minutes, hits two big 3s
* Quincy Redmon fends off taller opponents for 7 key rebounds

By Kevin Spradlin
PhDispatch.com
FROSTBURG, March 18 -- It's difficult to describe what it meant to the members of the Bishop Walsh varsity boys basketball team, its coaching staff and supporters.

The Spartans hadn't won an A.C.I.T. game since 1996 and hadn't posted a victory in the second round since 1981. The host team, some acknowledged Friday afternoon at Frostburg State University, had become somewhat of a joke if not an outright laughingstock as BW served as early fodder for teams vying for a tournament championship.

At first, the players' shouting and cheering inside a jubilant locker room was so loud that not a single individual word could be heard. When things began to settle - at least temporarily - Pat Jones said it all.

"I'm on top of the world," said Jones, the junior Spartan who took over the final two minutes and eight seconds offensively for Bishop Walsh. In that stretch, he outscored St. Benedict's 8-5 all by himself, including two crucial 3-pointers that, each time, put the Spartans back on top.

It was close. Oh-so-close. The Gray Bees' Tyler Ennis, who finished with a game-high 29 points, took the inbounds pass with 6.8 seconds left in the game and was stopped at the top of the key under immense defensive pressure from Quincy Redmon and Richie Mann.

Ennis had no choice but to pass off to Andris Misters, who, just in front of his team's bench, let what proved to be the final shot of the game sail towards the basket. Misters' touch was just a bit too strong, though, and it bounced once on the near-side rim and off, falling harmlessly to the floor.

The crowd erupted. The players celebrated. But it was nearly the Gray Bees who had reason to celebrate.

Bishop Walsh led 16-11 after the first eight minutes of play. Early in the second period, the Spartans continued their dominance - despite a series of turnovers and missed offensive opportunities - and, on a 3-pointer from point guard Richie Mann, seized a 23-13 advantage with 5:45 left before halftime.

Then Benedict sophomore Tyler Ennis, with just three points, began to take over the game. He scored. He scored again. Then he scored again, along with teammate Jaylen Reid as the Gray Bees pulled within 29-25 with 1:26 left before intermission.

Redmon and sophomore Liam Rhodes, who spent most of the season on the Spartans' undefeated JV team (24-0), each hit two free throws for a 33-25 Bishop Walsh lead.

But 6-10 junior Philip Nolan, who had been unsuccessful inside the paint earlier, hit a giant 3-pointer three seconds before the buzzer as the Gray Bees headed into the locker room trailing only 33-28.

Though Nolan scored inside at the start of the third quarter, the Spartans seemed to be back on track as Redmon hit a bucket with 6:25 to play in the period and, just five seconds later, Mann nailed a 3-pointer for 38-30 advantage.

Ennis scored inside, but Redmon and junior Greg Hendershot, inserted into the starting lineup for the tournament due to senior Dylan D'Atri's injury, hit two consecutive buckets. Bishop Walsh led 44-32 with 3:49 to play in the third quarter. All seemed safe.

The the bottom nearly fell out of the Spartans' winning effort almost as quickly the Spartans' small but vocal crowd was silenced.

Over the next 3:42, the Gray Bees went on a 13-2 tear that wiped out almost every bit of the Spartans' lead. With seven seconds left in the period, St. Benedict's trailed only 46-45. No one scored the rest of the frame.

A field goal by Ennis, who seemingly could score at will, gave St. Benedict's its first lead since the Gray Bees led 2-0 just four seconds after tip-off. There was plenty of time for drama, though, as 7:49 remained on the clock. Neither team disappointed.

A 3-pointer by Rhodes put BW up 49-47 with 6:18 left but Ennis came back with yet another layup to knot the score at 49 points apiece.

Jones hit the second of two free throws for the Spartans for a slim 50-49 lead with 5:57 to play. It didn't last long. Twenty-one seconds later, Mike Young scored to give the Gray Bees a 51-50 lead.

Redmon, strong on defense all day, made a steal with 3:43 to play but the Spartans were unable to convert into points. A turnover by St. Benedict's, however, provided the open space Mann needed. He hit a 3-pointer with 3:34 to go to put BW back on top, 53-51.

That lead, too, didn't last long. Ennis scored only 18 seconds later. He struck again with 2:49 to play for a 55-53 lead in favor of the Gray Bees.

But Jones, already with 10 points, decided he was just getting started. He got open for a 3-pointer with 2:08 to play to put BW back on top, 56-55. Jamel Artis countered with two free throws 16 seconds later as St. Benedict's retook the lead, 57-56.

Jones struck again. With 1:19 to go, he hit his third 3-pointer to for a 59-57 Spartans advantage. Again, it didn't last long. Ennis hit a layup and completed the three-point play. With only 54.9 seconds left on the clock, the Gray Bees led, 60-59.

Jones, though, wasn't quite finished. Devon Hawley dished to Jones inside the paint a few feet in front of the free throw line. Jones, already in the air, put an arc on the ball that put it just out of reach of Nolan, the 6-10 junior, with 18.3 seconds on the clock.