Five Takeaways: John Carroll vs Mt. St. Joseph (MIAA A Semifinals)
In arguably the most thrilling game this season up to this point, the John Carroll Patriots pulled off a 79-78 victory over Mt. St. Joseph to lock their spot in the MIAA A Conference championship game this coming Sunday. It was a contested game through and through that forced both sides to battle obstacles and tested their strength. Here are some takeaways from a game that will soon not be forgotten.
Quickley plays hero for the Patriots
Last night wasn’t the first time that Kentucky bound senior guard Immanuel Quickley hit a game-winning shot when his team needed it most. Two years ago when Quickley was a sophomore, he nailed the game-winning three-pointer to win the MIAA championship. Last night, he caught the ball with seven seconds on the clock after Mt. St. Joe senior guard Tyree Myers converted a lay up to put the Gaels up by one. Quickley took the ball the length of the floor and hit a tough floater from the left side of the hoop after trying to draw contact. As the buzzer sounded and the ball went through the rim, the crowd stormed the court as John Carroll came out on top in an instant classic. Quickley finished the game with 24 points.
Immanuel Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) responds after St. Joe takes the lead. John Carroll heads to the MIAA Championship game Sunday to take on Boys’ Latin. Stats to follow. @PrepHoopsMD pic.twitter.com/kAtWB1arqy
— Colby Giacubeno (@ColbyGHoops) February 23, 2018
James Bishop puts on a gutsy performance
Early in the third quarter, Maryland commit Jalen Smith went down for the Gaels with an apparent head injury. After being evaluated by the trainer, Smith was ruled out for remainder of the game. All eyes turned to junior guard James Bishop to turn up as the scoring threat. The 6-foot-3 southpaw single-handily kept his team in the game throughout the fourth quarter. At one point, Bishop scored 11-straight points, which included a three-pointer that would eventually send the game into overtime. Bishop led all scorers with 30 points.
Final seconds. Bishop continues to have ice water in his veins. Nails a triple to send it into OT. @PrepHoopsMD pic.twitter.com/iX3HLN9ieo
— Colby Giacubeno (@ColbyGHoops) February 23, 2018
Mathis gets going from deep
If you’ve been fortunate enough to watch senior guard Montez Mathis play, you’d know the physicality he brings along with ability to finish around and above the rim. Last night for John Carroll, he had his moments of taking the ball to the hoop, but converted on three three-pointers to give the Patriots more driving lanes when he was on the floor. Mathis finished with 21 points, eight of which came in the third quarter to help John Carroll storm a Mt. St. Joe run.
Gaels respond to adversity
When a team’s best player goes down, there two ways the rest of the game can go. The team can either collapse, or come together and pull off the unthinkable. Although the Gaels came up short on the scoreboard, the heart and effort they displayed once Jalen Smith went down was remarkable. A pair of seniors in Tyree Myers (7 points) and Tim McDonald (14 points) picked up the slack in the second half to give the Gaels a chance to win. It’s situations like these where the coaches get to really see what their team is made of. For Mt. St. Joe head coach Pat Clatchey, it showed that his guys have no idea what the word “quit” means.
What’s next for both teams?
John Carroll advances to the MIAA A Conference championship for the second time in three years. They’ll face Boys’ Latin, who pulled off an upset against St. Frances, this Sunday at Harford Community College. Tip-off is set for 5pm. The Gaels still have a chance to hoist a championship trophy. They’ll face Archbishop Spalding in the opening round of the BCL tournament next Thursday.