Five Takeaways: St. Frances vs Mount St. Joe (BCL Championship)
For the second time in a championship setting this season, St. Frances and Mount St. Joe went head-to-head. The Gaels reigned victorious when the two battled for the MIAA A Conference crown, but this time around, St. Frances came out…
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Continue ReadingFor the second time in a championship setting this season, St. Frances and Mount St. Joe went head-to-head. The Gaels reigned victorious when the two battled for the MIAA A Conference crown, but this time around, St. Frances came out focused and on a mission to avenge that loss. The Panthers led from start to finish as they won their third-straight BCL title by a final score of 81-65.
Here are five takeaways from the championship bout:
Baldwin takes over, again
VCU commit Ace Baldwin continues his tear that has extended through the 2019-20 season by leading St. Frances with 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Baldwin put a nail in the coffin mid-way through the fourth quarter as he hit three-straight triples, two of which came in transition by stopping on a dime and rising up. As indicated by his stat line, he was also a presence on the glass with his game-high 10 rebounds. On multiple occasions, he’d corral the defensive board and quickly advance the ball up the floor for fast break points. Baldwin was named BCL Tournament MVP for the third consecutive year adding to his argument as being one of the best players to come out of Baltimore.
Edokpayi with another strong performance
In all four meeting this season against St. Frances, Fairfield commit Jason Edokpyi has been impressive. The 6-foot-7 forward is a tough match up with his mobility and versatility as a scorer. He hit four face-up jump shots from 12-to-15 feet on the baseline. Edokpayi as usual operated effectively catching the ball on the block, getting good elevation and connecting on shots over his left shoulder. He finished with 19 points to lead the Gaels.
A big sophomore makes big impact
Andre Roye hasn’t played a lot in close games this year for St. Frances. The 6-foot-8 forward is a load on the football field and offers size to St. Frances’ roster in dire situations. Well earlier this afternoon Roye showed he can do much more than just take up space in the paint. In fact, he finished with 10 points off the bench and was huge for St. Frances in the first half as 2021 forward Julian Reese got into foul trouble. Roye’s size and physicality was too much for his match up and as a result, he feasted on the offensive glass and came through with second chance points. He also made all of his four free-throw attempts. You wouldn’t expect it, but he has decent form and gets good rotation on the ball following his release. Roye’s production was a preview of the role he can fill for the upcoming two years for this Panthers team.
Hamlin and Stines produce despite foul trouble
2021 D’Angelo Stines and 2022 Antonio Hamlin each picked up their fourth foul early in the third quarter, but the duo still played a huge role in the Gaels staying within reach. Stines has cemented his name with his play the last few weeks and his confidence continues to shine through. He finished with 13 points including three three’s and a couple of crafty finishes around the rim. Hamlin got into a groove early with his shot and it carried over in each quarter. The sophomore followed Edokpayi’s 19 points with 15 of his own. He converted two three’s and used his brute strength to finish through contact on his way to the rim. Stines and Hamlin each saw a dramatic increase in their roles this season, but you can expect them to take an even bigger jump next season.
The rivalry is in good hands
Many familiar faces that have played in this rivalry will be absent next year. Names such as Ace Baldwin, Jamal West, Tyler Brelsford, Jason Edokpayi, Will Sykes and Cam Sapienza will all be playing at the collegiate level. Have no fear though, guys like Ausar Crawley, D’Angelo Stines, Antonio Hamlin and Sean Carr will carry on for the Gaels any introduce any of the newcomers to the roster. For the St. Frances side, Khryrie Staten, Byron Ireland, Julian Reese Tevin Curtis, Andre Roye and Elijah Davis will carry on the tradition and quickly get any younger players or transfers prepared for the war that takes place when these two teams meet. Over the years, there’s been plenty of roster turnover between the two squads, but the high level of basketball has always remained. It was a pleasure watching them battle this season and I’m excited for what some of the names I mentioned have in store for their schools and the city of Baltimore.