MIAA basketball teams celebrate the holidays with tournament appearances

The 2024 holiday season is winding down and, between various celebrations, many MIAA basketball teams spent the season on the court, playing in tournaments far and wide.

Archbishop Spalding had plenty of success, defeating league rival John Carroll, 64-61, and Fairfax Christian (Va.), 67-60, Dec. 20-21, to win the Mid-Atlantic Invitational at Bowie State. The Cavaliers then traveled to Salisbury and won their bracket at the Governor’s Challenge, late last week, with wins over Imani Christian (Pa.) and St. Andrew’s Episcopal.

After falling to Spalding in the Mid-Atlantic Invitation, John Carroll dropped two close games at the Benedictine Capital City Classic in Richmond, Va., before rallying to rout Carmel School (Va.), 86-59, in the final consolation game. McDonogh was also on hand at the Benedictine Capital City Classic where the Eagles lost to Landon School, 57-55, topped Carmel, 70-55, and lost to Good Counsel, 60-57.

Calvert Hall played in two events, defeating Inspire Academy (Canada), 64-57, at the Clash of Titans event in Baltimore on Dec. 22 and then traveling to Elmira, New York for the Elmira Holiday Classic. The Cardinals defeated host Elmira, 55-37, in their opener. The Cardinals fell, 68-49, to Mechanicsburg (Pa.) in the semifinals before scoring a 57-43 win over Erie (Pa.) in the third-place consolation game.

Loyola spent its post Christmas week in New Orleans at the Blue Jay Christmas Classic. The Dons defeated Canisius (NY), 53-39, in their opener, but dropped their final two games in the event.

Mount Carmel also played in the Clash of the Titans, defeating Inspire Academy, 55-35, and losing, 63-47, to DeMatha. The Cougars then traveled to Philadelphia (Dec. 27-28) and defeated two Pennsylvania teams, Erie Cathedral and Pittsburgh Central Catholic, to win the Mid Penn Bank Classic.

Mount St. Joseph lost, 78-62, to South Lakes (Va.) at the Champions Classic on Dec. 21, before heading to Florida for the Junior Orange Bowl Classic. The Gaels downed Mater Lakes (Fla.), 58-44, in their first game and then fell to host Miami Palmetto, 61-59, in the semifinals and Woodward Academy (Ga.), 73-54, in the third place consolation game.

In addition to its win over Mount Carmel, St. Francis defeated Word of God Christian (NC), 60-57, at the Clash of Titans. The Panthers then defeated St. Rose (NJ) and Archbishop Carroll (DC) to win the Jordan Holiday Classic in New York City.

Three other A Conference teams also appeared in the Governor’s Challenge in Salisbury where Boys’ Latin defeated Kennedy Catholic (NY), 80-41, and Sanford (DE), 65-61, and Glenelg Country lost toIMG Academy Gold (FL), 65-63, and to Academy of New Church (Pa.), 92-66. Gilman was lost both games in its bracket, falling to Elizabeth (NJ), 71-57, and Holy Ghost (PA), 61-58.

Some B Conference teams also played in the Governor’s Challenge

Severn won two close games, defeating Curtis (NY), 67-65, and Archbishop Carroll (DC),63-60. St. Paul’s split two games, defeating Salisbury School, 48-19, and losing to New Hope (Md.), 69-53. In addition, St. John’s Catholic defeated Holy Ghost (PA), 82-79, before falling to Elizabeth (NJ), 66-37, in the bracket championship game. Finally, Indian Creek dropped a pair of contests in Salisbury, losing to Samuel Fels (PA), 69-56, and Mount Zion Blue, 87-81.

St. Mary’s played in the Crest Savings Bank Battle of the Boards in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They dropped their opener in the George Betz Memorial Bracket to St. Joe’s by the Sea (NY), before bouncing back to defeat Camden Eastside (NJ) in a consolation game. The Saints also played in the Viking Invitational on Monday, in Wilmington, Del., and defeated Lincoln (NY), 69-50.

Archbishop Curley and Friends School both appeared in the Overlead Holiday event. Curley defeated Rosedale Christian, 58-43, and Friends School topped Havre de Grace, 54-48.

Gerstell Academy won the Winters Mill Holiday Classic defeating host Winters Mill, 53-38, in the semifinals and defeating Lake Clifton, 50-38, in the final.

In the C Conference, Park School defeated Cape May Tech, 60-40, in the Ray Martin Memorial Bracket at the Boardwalk Classic in New Jersey, before losing to Central Buck South (Pa.), 70-39, in the championship game.